‘A bit of a fly-by-night. Unpredictable. He was married before and he did some jail time but he’s a reformed character. He’s turned himself around—’

‘—my baby is in a house with an ex-jailbird? What did he do?’

‘Well, his sentence was commuted to two years from six—’

‘—WHAT. DID. HE. DO?’

‘It was a long time ago, twenty years or more. He was a young teacher. And he was… having a relationship… with a student. Claudia knew about it, well, she didn’t know how old the girl was—’

‘How old?’

‘Old enough to know better if you ask me but—’

‘HOW. FUCKING. OLD?’

‘Thirteen.’

‘THIRTEEN?’

‘But this was years ago, and the girl admitted to leading him on—’

‘THIRTEEN?’

‘It’s history, Rhiannon, ancient history—’

‘IT’S RAPE.’

‘I’m sure he’s—’

‘—you’re sure what, you’re sure he doesn’t have a taste for pre-pubescent girls anymore? Jesus Christ, Seren. WHY DID YOU TELL ME? How can I leave her with him now I know that?’

‘I will do my best to help Claudia, I promise you. You don’t need to get involved with this. Listen to me – you have to stay away from her. For her sake. For mine. I could go to jail if they find out you’re still alive.’

‘Ivy’s my daughter. And she is living with a paedophile.’

‘Calm down, Rhiannon, please.’

‘Calm down? Calm down?! You tell me my kid is living with a convicted sex offender and you don’t think I’m gonna flip my fucking wig?’

‘You gave her up,’ she said, pleadingly. ‘She’s not your responsibility anymore. And Claudia is an amazing mom, I promise you. And she loves Mitch but— oh God, I shouldn’t have told you this. Why did I open my fat mouth?’

‘Maybe on some level you wanted me to know.’

‘Oh shit. No, no, Ivy wants for nothing. While Claudia is alive, Ivy is fine.’

‘Claudia is dying.’

‘We’ll figure it out, OK? I give you my word. I will make sure Claudia has support, as much as she needs. As far as the authorities are concerned, you are out of the picture now. You’re free to live your life. Stay away from this, Rhiannon. Please. Please?’

Thursday, 23 January – Burlington International Airport, Vermont

1. Journalist of the moment Guy Majors who called me a ‘depraved, evil maniac who needs burying in a lead-lined coffin’
2. People with fully workable legs who stand still on travelators
3. People who huff and puff about taking shoes and belts off at the cattle grid, I mean, security gates. Get a fucking mooooove on
4. People who spread viruses and cause planes to be delayed
5. Mitchell Aaron Silverton