The kids had their own lives now, just like he had his. Only Shauna was sitting back there in her grand house, expecting the world – the family – to revolve around her like she was the fucking queen or something. And it didn’t; not any more. They had all moved on, and somehow she just hadn’t noticed, or she hadn’t wanted to. Shauna was clinging on to a forgotten past, clinging on to him, and now it had to stop.

‘I miss them,’ he said, as Claire sauntered over to where he stood.

‘They miss you too. You’ll be back in time for Christmas though, won’t you?’

‘Shaun, I dunno . . .’

‘I really don’t know why you have to keep going back to the States. I told you – there are fights to be had here, Josh. You know that’s true.’

‘Shaun . . .’ He was so tired of hearing this.

‘Or is the truth that you’d rather be there, than here with me? Is that the truth, Josh?’

Stop it, he mouthed, but Claire was tugging at his belt now. He turned away, making a no, not now gesture with his free hand. Claire paused, smiling into his eyes.

‘Josh, is there someone else? Are you cheating on me?’ said Shauna.

Christ, he thought, winded by the suddenness of the accusation. With Claire standing right here in front of him. He felt almost like Shauna had X-ray vision, could see inside the room, right now.

‘Shaun . . .’ he started.

‘I know what you did, don’t forget that, Josh,’ said Shauna.

What?

Josh stared at the phone. ‘What the fuck does that mean?’ he asked Shauna.

‘Andrew Meredith. That little job you did for Dave Houghton in the New Forest. You killed Andrew. Dave paid you to do it. You can’t have forgotten.’

Christ, was she talking about blackmailing him? Saying, stay with me or I’ll shop you?

Claire, sensing something was wrong, was frowning up at him but he was barely even registering her presence. He put his hand over the mouthpiece. ‘Give me a minute, can you?’ he whispered.

He saw the puzzlement in her eyes but she left the room without argument, snatching up his shirt and disappearing into the bathroom. Josh turned his attention back to his wife.

‘Listen, Shauna – I know what you did too.’

‘Meaning?’

Josh lowered his voice. ‘You shot two of the Cleaver brothers dead, Shaun. You forgotten that?’