Briony and Tommy watched him leave, buttoning his coat. They watched him walk down to the corner of the street and walk into a small shop. He came out five minutes later with a brightly coloured box of sweets. Briony felt her heart stop dead in her chest.

It was as if she was a child again and Henry was coming to visit her, with his little treats and presents. She gripped Tommy’s hand on the steering wheel and whispered: ‘Follow him, let’s see where he’s going.’

He shrugged and started up the car, the urgency in her voice communicating itself to him.

‘He’s got a girl, Tommy. The bastard bought sweets, and from what Sally’s said they’re not for Benedict. He can’t stand the sight of the child. He used to bring me bits and pieces. The bastard, the dirty bastard!’

They followed him, matching his brisk pace. As he turned into Upney Lane, Briony held her breath inside her chest until it hurt. Henry’s pace quickened and when he opened a small wooden gate and practically danced up the path, she felt the rage build inside her. The front door was opened by a young woman. Briony squinted. She looked familiar. The woman greeted Dumas effusively, and when the door shut behind them, Briony and Tommy emerged from their car on to the dirt road.

‘I’ll kill him, Tommy. I swear to you, I’ll kill him!’

‘Calm down. We’ll go in and find out the score. There’ll be no killing here today. If we top him it’ll cause us too much trouble. It’s a warning we’re here to deliver, right?’

Briony stared into his face and the misery she displayed made Tommy want to wring Henry Dumas’ neck.

‘I hate him! I hate him from the very bones, do you know that? Even Olds, as bad as he was, deserved to live over that bastard. Had more right to life.’

Pulling away from Tommy, she walked over to the house purposefully, banging open the little wooden gate and tramping up the neat path as quick as her legs would carry her. Tommy followed her, a feeling of foreboding inside him.

This was more than a revenge. Briony was facing her own personal demons today, he understood that, and as the front door opened, he put his hand inside his coat and caressed the policeman’s truncheon he had placed there earlier. He had a good few scores to settle this day himself.

Christine Howell opened the door smiling, her big moon face split in a grin that rapidly disappeared as she saw the two people standing before her.

‘Where is he?’ Briony’s voice was tight.

‘Who?’ Christine’s voice was high. Fright mingled with confusion making her panic.

‘Who? Who do you fucking think! That nonsense who just walked in here!’