She didn’t smile. Instead, she took my hand and brought me into a cold, one-armed hug. Her breath was warm on my ear as she whispered, ‘It’s family money, Ern.’

They were urgent, stolen words. Michael had told me the same thing the night he’d buried Alan. It’s our money. I knew what it meant. He’d earned it. He’d killed for it. He was laying claim to it, and offering me a share for my silence. I can’t say what I was expecting to hear from Erin, perhaps something apologetic or, when she leaned in close to my ear, something sultry, or a combination of the two: apologetically sultry. But I hadn’t expected her to be Michael’s messenger, while he smiled and said he owed me a cold one. It’s family money, Ern. Was there a hint of what might happen if I didn’t play along? I couldn’t be sure. The look in her eyes was earnest, not threatening. Maybe just a warning. She was gone before I could decide, and I couldn’t ask her in front of everyone anyway.

The group quickly split into factions. Lucy and Sofia closed in on Michael and me. Lucy assumedly didn’t want to let Michael out of her sight, and Sofia probably didn’t want me to blurt out anything about the money until I’d decided whether to give her any. Erin formed a cluster with my mother and Marcelo. Without seeming too interested, I tried to read my mother’s expression. It was unfamiliar to me, so I figured it must have been warm and welcoming. Katherine joined Erin’s huddle, and Andy, momentarily stranded in the middle, floated over to our group.

Michael, perhaps realising it was up to him to set the tone and that if he didn’t talk, no one would, was trying to keep things light by telling us how he’d forced Erin to stop at every petrol station on the way up so he could sample a different chocolate bar at each.

‘Best one?’ I’d made a little deal with myself to be as civil to Michael as he was to me, so I thought I’d try to join in.

‘Results are inconclusive.’ He nodded, then tapped his belly. ‘I’m going to need a lot more data.’

Lucy laughed far too loudly.

‘What’s with the truck?’ Sofia asked. ‘Did you not get the “mountain lodge” part of the invite? I’m surprised you made it up here.’