‘Display?’

He watched her face for a moment as if unsure what to say next. ‘How long have you known her?’

‘Barely any time at all in fact. But in another way I’ve known about her all my life. She was a friend of my mother’s until they – ’ she searched for a way to describe what had happened ‘ – fell out. Years ago. She didn’t see Olivia after that.’

‘What did they fall out about?’ He put his hand to his forehead. ‘Sorry. I don’t want to put you on the spot. Only tell me what you want to, of course. It’s just, there are probably things . . . Do you know much about Olivia?’

Anna sighed. ‘If you’ve got all day, I’ll tell you.’

‘I actually know almost nothing about her, except a little bit through Krish. She and your mom – were they close?’

‘Very. Mom loved her.’

‘And she wanted you to see her?’

‘I think – yes, I’m sure she did. She said she understood that I’d want to make contact. But she told me to be careful.’

‘But why didn’t you see her while your mother was still alive.’

‘Because she told me Olivia was dead. All my life I believed she was killed in the war.’

Jake made a sound, an outward breath, half whistle. Anna hesitated. She wanted to talk about this, to share it. And she trusted Jake.

‘You have to understand that Olivia’s life has been, well – difficult. But she was living with us for a time when I was born. She was in a very bad state at the time. When I was about three months old she tried to drown me in the bath.’

‘My God.’ Jake stood upright suddenly. ‘Is that true?’

‘Mom wouldn’t have made it up.’

‘Aren’t you – I mean, what the hell d’you feel about that?’

‘I don’t know what to feel. I don’t remember it of course, not directly. I only found out about it a few weeks ago.’

‘And you only met her for the first time this week?’

She nodded. ‘Now I’ve met her I can’t work out what to think about her.’ She paused, looking out through the open door into the little yard. There was a neat stack of old doors covered in chipped paint, leaning against the opposite wall. ‘One minute I feel drawn in, sort of . . . infatuated almost, by her. I don’t know if this sounds crazy to you? Then she turns suddenly and she’s frightening. I don’t know why. It’s something in her face. It just flashes across. Then she’s charming again and I can’t work out whether I’ve imagined it, that I’m reading things into it because I know about her past. You don’t really think she’s dangerous, surely?’

‘Only to Krish.’

‘Krish? But they’re so close. Seeing them together’s like the mutual admiration society.’

‘This is why I said I needed to talk to you.’ He put his head on one side. ‘Why d’you think I hang out with someone like Krish? He’s fifteen years younger than me, and in many ways he’s a complete pillock.’