His words hit like a clenched fist to my stomach. ‘You mean me, don’t you? I’m being set up to take the fall for Tobey?’

‘Seph, the police received an anonymous tip-off that Tobey has the real murder weapon. They know both of Dan’s wounds were made with a letter opener and they’ve been told that your fingerprints are on it.’

‘No, they aren’t because I—’ I bit my lip. I almost blurted out that I’d wiped my fingerprints off the letter opener, but caught myself in time. I could just imagine how that would sound to Jon – like a bona fide confession that I killed Dan. ‘Because I didn’t kill Dan,’ I finished weakly. Another thought struck me round the face. What if, in my panic, I didn’t manage to wipe off all my fingerprints?

‘How d’you know about the tip-off?’

‘A friend in high places within the police service – and I believe him.’

Calm down, Sephy. Take a breath.

‘Has Tobey handed the weapon over yet?’

‘No, but the police will come knocking at his door within the next twenty-four hours, demanding that he hand it over and any other evidence he may have. If he doesn’t, he’ll be arrested for obstructing justice and this time the charge will stick,’ said Jon. ‘When push comes to shove, he’ll give up the murder weapon and the recording he has of you – both of which are pretty damning.’

‘What recording?’ I asked sharply.

‘The one of you standing behind Dan’s slumped body with the murder weapon in your hand. Which one d’you think I’m talking about?’ said Jon.

Oh. My. God. There was a recording of me in Dan’s study? And Tobey had it? Why didn’t Callie tell me? No wonder she’d been so upset. ‘Damn it.’

‘You don’t know about the recording?’ asked Jon, aghast. ‘I’m sorry. I thought Callie would’ve told you about that too. Me and my big mouth.’

‘It must’ve slipped my daughter’s mind,’ I said furiously.

‘Well, please don’t tell her that you got it from me or she’ll kick my arse,’ Jon pleaded.

‘Tell me about this recording,’ I ordered.

‘Not much more to say about it really. As I understand, it shows you plunging the letter opener into Dan’s back.’

‘I didn’t do it, Jon,’ I protested. ‘I thought it was one of Dan’s stupid games so took the knife out of his back, then realized it wasn’t so I put it back in a panic.’ In my rush to explain, my actions sounded ludicrous, even to my own ears. It was the first time I’d admitted to anyone but myself what I’d done.

‘If that’s all the recording shows, then hopefully you have nothing to worry about,’ said Jon.