‘The poverty was sickening but at least most of the mothers cared for their kids. Imagine adding in those who were high on drugs, or only kids themselves. Your gran got to know every one of them, including those she knew couldn’t look after their babies.’

‘But even so, getting them to sell their children—’

‘She hoped the money would help them out,’ Annie says, seeming exasperated that I still can’t accept this. ‘And for Bonnie’s mother it did. But like I said, I owed your gran everything, and I grew to love your mother like she was my own.’

‘Why did you help Bob and Ruth—’ I start as Annie pushes herself off the stool.

‘Have your bath and warm up.’ She flicks a hand towards the water. ‘I’ll make us a drink and we can talk downstairs.’

A loud thud makes us both jump. I shoot upright as Annie reaches a hand to steady herself.

‘That wasn’t thunder,’ I say. It dawns on me only now that the storm has stopped, though rain still hammers against the small pane in the bathroom.

‘I’ll check it out.’

‘Annie, be careful,’ I say as she goes to the door. ‘Bob – I don’t trust him. I think he’s been sending me threats and tonight he told me I can’t get off the island.’

She hesitates in the doorway. ‘You can’t,’ she says plainly.

‘I have to. Bob doesn’t want me going to the police, but I can’t let Danny go to prison for something he didn’t do. They’ll charge him with murder by morning if I don’t tell them the truth.’

‘But your family – your mother – this all comes out and – it can’t come out, Stella.’

‘You can’t expect me not to say anything?’ I gape at her. She’s known Danny’s confessed for days. ‘You’d let him go to prison for something he didn’t do?’

‘Oh, my dear …’ Annie’s eyes water.

‘Annie, I know what you’ve done for my mum, but Danny – you know you can’t do that to him.’

‘Only …’ She hesitates, one hand holding on to the open door.

‘What is it?’

‘The night it happened – I only have your mother’s word for it.’

‘I’m not following.’

‘She told me she was the one who pushed Iona, yet—’

‘What are you suggesting, Annie?’

‘Deep down?’ she says gravely. ‘I always thought she might be covering for him. He was arguing with Iona on that clifftop right before it happened.’

‘No,’ I say defiantly.

‘And if that’s the case—’