She is next to the body, staring down at the silvery mess.

‘I should check her pulse,’ she says.

‘Don’t touch her,’ I cry as I stagger to my feet. The room starts to spin and I clutch the edge of the table for support. ‘Just don’t touch her.’

Then Julia’s shoulders begin to shake violently.

‘I’m scared,’ she says, looking towards me. ‘I didn’t mean to do it. They’ll send me to prison. I can’t go there.’

I let go of the table and slowly make my way towards her. Holding her shoulders with my hands so that she is facing me, I look into her eyes and my heart crumbles. Prison would kill her. Just like the home nearly did. I can’t do that to her again.

‘Listen to me,’ I say firmly. ‘You are not going to prison.’

Julia’s lip starts to quiver. Her body is shaking so badly I’m scared she will have a panic attack. It is Elspeth’s face looking back at me the night of the accident, her big green eyes pleading: ‘No, Mummy, no.’

‘You are not going to prison, Julia,’ I say, rubbing her arms to warm her up. ‘But you have to do as I say, do you understand?’

She nods.

‘Good girl,’ I say. ‘I let you down, I know I did, but I am going to make it up to you. I promise you that, Julia. I’m here now and I’m not going to let anyone or anything harm you ever again.’

She looks at me, her face flushed from crying.

‘I thought you’d … I thought you didn’t want me. I’m so sorry …’

‘You have nothing to be sorry for, do you hear me? Nothing. But you’re going to have to be strong for the next hour or so, okay? We both are.’

She looks across at Barbara’s body and nods her head.

‘Okay,’ she says, wiping her eyes. ‘What should I do?’

‘Go over there and wash your hands,’ I say, gesturing to the sink. ‘Scrub them.’

She looks down at her hands. They are splattered with blood. But like an obedient child, she does as she is told.