Maria passed through the white picket fence, kicking it shut behind her as she looked up to see David waiting for her at the kitchen window. All those little broken pieces began to mould together into an iron clump in her chest. His own guilt had led him to admit to the girl what they’d done, and she knew in that moment she would never be able to forgive him for that.

PRESENT

Chapter Thirty-One

‘What the hell are you doing here again?’ Bob growls, peeling off two thick black gloves from his hands and tossing them to the side. ‘I told you—’

‘She was just leaving,’ Ruth interrupts, quickly standing and trying to bustle me up too.

Bob steps forward. His hand blocks me from moving as he stretches it across me, leaning on the back of my chair. ‘I asked what you’re doing here,’ he says, eyes roaming my face, an action that makes him look nervous though the rest of him gives no such impression.

‘I just wanted to speak to you both,’ I tell him.

He raises his eyebrows. ‘Go ahead.’

Ruth patters behind him, tapping from one foot to the other, but when Bob turns to look at her she immediately stills. ‘What have you been telling her?’ he demands.

She shakes her head, her lips part. ‘She knew,’ Ruth says quietly. ‘She already knew about Jill.’

Bob raises his hand and slams it back on the chair, glaring at Ruth.

‘She’s telling the truth,’ I say. ‘I knew about Jill before I came back today.’

‘Go upstairs,’ he tells his wife.

Ruth hesitates. She glances at me, then back at Bob, but it only takes a moment before she disappears and her footsteps race up the stairs.

Confident she’s gone, Bob turns back to me, glowering, and strides around the table to sit down opposite me. His movements are slow and purposeful as if he’s not fazed by me one bit. ‘So what are you doing here?’ he asks me again.

‘I want to know the truth,’ I tell him.

‘And what business do you think it is of yours?’

‘My brother is innocent,’ I say. When Bob doesn’t react I go on, ‘I don’t think he killed Iona but I believe someone’s happy for him to take the blame.’

Bob dips his head ever so slightly to one side.

‘Iona came to the island looking for her sister. She was here for Jill.’ I try keeping my words level, though each sentence comes out in sharp puffs.

‘And I take it you’ve gone to the police with your so-called information?’

I open my mouth, pause, clamp it shut again.

Bob laughs, his head lolling back. ‘No, I didn’t think so. Why is that?’ When I don’t answer he goes on, ‘I killed Iona. Is that what you think?’