As this hypothetical chain of events unfolded in a nightmarish fashion in my head, I turned and fled back to my car. I let myself in with fumbling fingers. Then I sat and stared out at the sky. The clouds were racing, propelled by the wind, too fast, disturbingly fast, like my thoughts. I tried to remember how Millie had greeted me at the memorial service. I’d slipped in head down, hadn’t really acknowledged anyone. But had she glared? Millie was one of the very few people I knew who felt compelled to keep in touch with Amanda, by dint of old family ties.

I’d thought Amanda was lying when she’d implied someone had seen me murder her brother, someone who lived behind, but what if it were true? She’d told me the police had mentioned a neighbour, but she’d also said – someone else told me that too. I’d thought it just another glib lie in her web, adding weight to the police story, realizing perhaps I wouldn’t believe they’d tell her anything; but what if that had been genuine? What if my instincts, usually so spot on with my sister-in-law, had been wrong? What if, for once, amongst all the manipulative lies, Amanda had been telling the truth when she said a neighbour saw something – but had simply got confused about where Ingrid lived? Not confused about what she’d seen, though. But surely if that was the case, the inspector would have called by now? The sword would have fallen? Or not yet. Not quite yet, perhaps. But imminently. Hence her blistering attack on me in church. Perhaps she was reeling me in, even now. Slowly. Letting everyone know what a bitch I was, so that when it came to pass, at the court case, they could all recall and say … golly. Remember that eulogy in church? About the mean-spirited wife? Freezing the poor sister out? Perhaps Amanda was enjoying herself. Letting me know she knew. For the second, or possibly third time that day, I felt sick. Very nauseous. And full of dread. Trembling, I fumbled in my bag for my phone. I tapped out a message.

‘My friend has been round. The neighbour wasn’t in, but it turns out she’s a friend of the dead husband. My friend is now in terrible trouble.’