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was thrown at him. He accepted its accuracy.
    He said he didn't look premature at al .'
    'So?'
    'Isn't that unusual?' Jessica's look was ful of contempt "Not particularly. He might not even have been very much premature anyway. Sarah's periods weren't regular, so it was difficult to know how far into her term she was. And some babies are bigger than others, you know. Like anything else.' There was derision in her voice. 'Is diere anything else you want to ask?'
    He didn't even feel relieved. Just stupid. 'No.'
    'Good. In that case you might as wel go.' She went and stood by the lounge door. Shamefaced, Ben went past her into the hal way. Another doorway led off it into a kitchen that was as barren and dean as the rest of the flat. A solitary place mat was set out on the smal table, with a stainless-steel salt-and-pepper cruet and glass vinegar bottle positioned at its top. They had the look of permanent fixtures.
    A newspaper lay neatly folded to one side of them, face up.
    Ben walked past, then stopped and went back.r
    1 haven't forgotten. I just can't see why she would have saved them.' Jessica gave a derisive snort. 'Is that what al this is about? You think she took somebody else's baby? What's the matter, are you tired of looking after him already?'
    'I just want to know the truth, that's al .'
    'The truth? The truth is that Sarah gave birth to an autistic child, and now she's dead you've decided you don't want the responsibility. Wel , you married her,' she spat. 'Now live with it!'
    'So Jacob is hers?'
    'Of course he's hers! I delivered him! Or are you going to cal me a liar as wel ?' Ben was never sure if he'd planned what he said next or not. But the fabrication came smoothly, as if rehearsed. 'So how come they've both got the same birthmark?' Jessica frowned. "What?'
    'The newspaper said the baby had a birthmark on his right shoulder. Jacob's got one there as wel .' He expected scorn for the transparent fabrication. Jessica's gaze went blank for a moment. Then it snapped back into focus.
    'That doesn't prove a thing. Lots of children have birthmarks,' she went on, but the hesitation had been too long. He felt a horror begin to uncurl in him.
    'Oh Christ,' he said.I Tve told you, it's just a coincidence. It doesn't mean anything.'

    'She did it, didn't she? She took the baby.'
    'Don't be ridiculous! Just because two babies have similar birthmarks-'
    'There isn't any fucking birthmark!' She blinked. Her eyes broke away from his gaze. 'Look, you're going to have to leave now. I've got to … I've got to go to work.' The bluster lacked conviction. Her hands fluttered, then
    fel limply to her side. Ben felt himself swaying. His legs barely supported him as he went unsteadily to the nearest kitchen chair and sank on to it. In spite of everything, he hadn't real y believed it. He realised he hadn't come to be told this; he'd come to be reassured.
    Jessica hadn't moved from the doorway. Her face was sul en and resigned, the colour leeched from it The midwife's uniform leemed like a costume.
    'Why?' he asked. 'What made her do it?'
    'She lost the baby.' Her voice was lifeless and flat. 'I came home one night, and found her sitting in the dark. She'd ipontaneously aborted that afternoon. In a public toilet.' She came to the table and sat down herself. She looked ihapeless, as if only the starched fabric was holding her together.
    I wanted to cal for a doctor, but she got hysterical when I tried.
    So I didn't, I made sure she wasn't stil bleeding or anything. It wasn't as if they could do any good anyway. They'd only want
    :o know where the foetus was, and then the police would've had
    :o be cal ed in. She'd been through enough already after that
    … that bastard left her when she was pregnant.' She looked it him, viciously. 'Did you know she tried to kil herself?' She gave a nod of triumph when she saw he hadn't. 'No, '. didn't think so. Wel , she did. She took an overdose not ong after she came to live with me. I found her