She stood out by the old blue Saab in the bright morning as he prepared to go. She felt strong now, and certain, but Richard was suddenly emotional.

‘Come with me – please? Give us another go, can’t you?’

‘No. I’m sorry, Richard.’ And she was.

‘I can’t believe this.’ He gestured helplessly. ‘If you change your mind . . .?’ He held out his arms. ‘Is a hug too much for you?’

She accepted, kissed him sadly. ‘Thank you,’ she was saying, and then there came the sound of the loud engine, revving through the Saturday morning calm and braking outside the house.

She saw Jake’s long legs emerge first below the door, then he appeared, his face white and tense, hair tied back in a short ponytail. He saw the two of them together and stopped, embarrassed.

‘What?’ Anna cried. ‘What’s happened?’

‘There’s trouble.’ Jake made an apologetic gesture with his long hands. ‘Look – sorry to interrupt. I think you’d better come.’

Jake’s driving was jerky.

‘What’s going on?’ Anna’s heart was pounding, her head still thick from a night of broken sleep. She sat tensed on the slippery black seat.

‘Ben phoned. It’s Sean – he started a fire. I think they’ve sorted that, but he sounded awful. And Krish’s only just functioning after last night, of course. I’d have left him to get some more sleep, but he made me drop him off home on the way.’ Jake glanced at her anxiously. ‘I wouldn’t have come if – I mean, I haven’t got your number. I feel a right clumsy idiot for barging in on you like that.’

‘It’s all right,’ Anna said. ‘Richard was just leaving. Actually I was relieved to see you. What’s sparked all this off?’

‘From what Ben said Sean and Olivia have been arguing half the night and no one’s had any sleep. I don’t know what goes on between them – some terrible version of teasing on her part, I suppose. But she’s obviously pushed him too far this time. Olivia’s asking for you, by the way.’

‘For me?’ She felt her heartbeat quicken further. ‘Why?’

‘I didn’t ask. I thought in the circumstances I’d just do what she and Krish wanted.’

When they reached the house Ben was walking up and down, hands on his hips, elbows at an outraged angle.

‘About bloody time!’ he exploded as they leapt from the van. ‘I shouldn’t be left with all this,’ he added petulantly. ‘He’s come down again now, too. I was all for calling the police, but Krish wouldn’t let me. Sean’s a fucking maniac.’ Ben was quivering, babbling on as they stood by the van.

‘I got up an hour or more ago. Found him at it with a lighter – stark naked, blood all down his chest as well. He was going for all those sari things – God knows what would’ve happened. He’s completely out of his tree. And then she came down and they had another go at each other. It was disgusting, foul. I couldn’t believe it . . .’ Anna saw he was close to tears, the shock of it making him seem small and childlike.