I await her return with … anticipation, is that the right word? Or expectation. Of the games to come. Of knowing there can be only one winner this time around. Me.

But there are only so many tricks I can play, only so many objects I can move, or steal. I’m getting bored. I’ve toyed with her long enough, but it’s not working. I thought she’d be so scared by now, terrified even, but cancer’s hard to compete with when it comes to fear.

She doesn’t know about me. I’m sure about that. That solicitor came, but he didn’t see her. He won’t have told her anyway. Confidentiality, and all that. It’s not as if he actually told me. Not all of it. Not about her. Well, not intentionally anyway. And he’s long gone. Job done. Back to his gazumping and his divorce cases, spreading his misery and charging the earth for the privilege. If she’d figured it out, I’d know. But she hasn’t. Not a clue.

So, if the cancer wasn’t able to do it for me – and where would be the satisfaction in that? – perhaps it’s time I did it myself. Finished it. Finished her.

I could do it, couldn’t I? Finish this thing properly. An eye for an eye. Or is that just a fantasy scenario? One I can take pleasure from, but could never really do? Still, what’s the worst that could happen? They could catch me. Unlikely, but possible. But who’s going to suspect me? No one, that’s who.

It’s a risk, but it could be worth it. After all, I don’t have much of a life left to lose. But she does.

Chapter 28

MADI

Faith’s old oak dining table had been extended, its central section brought into play to accommodate the many dishes of food and to make room for the extra chairs. Sian and Ralph, along with his dad Ken, had been invited to join Madi and the family for dinner, and from the moment Faith had manoeuvred her into the chair next to Ken, it had become more and more obvious that there was more than a hint of matchmaking going on.

Madi liked Ken. She had enjoyed his company the night they’d first met in the pub, but she was absolutely not in the market for a man, no matter how amenable he might be.

‘No Tom tonight?’ Ralph said, between mouthfuls of cauliflower cheese. Whether he really believed that she and Tom were linked in some way other than simply as next-door neighbours, or whether he was just trying to help her throw Ken off the scent, she could not be sure. Either way, it certainly made Ken pull back a little as he poured her a second glass of the over-sweet apple wine he had brought with him.

‘I didn’t think to ask him,’ Faith cut in. ‘I didn’t want to overwhelm Madi with too big a crowd, so I thought we should stick to family and close friends tonight, and you know that always includes you, Ralph. I’m just sorry you can’t stay for long.’