No bank balance suddenly turned up, no official confessed, and no judge gave a speech.

But before we left, the mediator asked Patrick to acknowledge that Lucas was alive and had the right to get records about his own life.

He agreed in writing to stop contacting Joanne’s household directly while the review went on.

Outside, Lucas leaned on the car, looking drained.

“Was that enough, what I said?” he asked.

“You said what you wanted to say,” I answered.

“That was enough.”