‘Interesting, interesting.’ Tom continues to make notes. ‘I’m wondering if perhaps your mother felt so dominated by your father that she dominated you in return. Maybe it was her way of retaining some control.’

Fran raises an eyebrow but says nothing. She’s trying to imagine the look on her mother’s face if she passed that titbit of psychoanalysis on.

‘So, Geraldine.’ Tom looks up from his notepad. ‘When you think about your parents where do you feel that emotion in your body?’

Oh for goodness sake, a voice shouts in the back of Fran’s head but, instead of voicing it, Fran finds herself pressing a hand to her chest.

‘That’s the same place you touched when we talked about regret in the last session,’ Tom says sagely. ‘What is it you regret, Geraldine?’

‘How long have you got?’

Tom smiles and then glances at his watch. ‘On that note, our time is up, I’m afraid. Are you okay?’

Fran shrugs agreeably. ‘Fine.’ Compared to the last session, when she’d left the room feeling emotionally bulldozed, she feels remarkably chipper.

‘Right then.’ Tom stands up and gestures for Fran to leave the room. As she eases herself out of her armchair Tom crouches to grab the jug and glasses from the table. ‘I said I’d do the water this afternoon. Kate’s having a lie down. She’s not feeling great.’

‘Did the harness chafe?’

Tom glances up. ‘Sorry?’

‘Nothing.’

They leave the room, Tom first and then Fran. She closes the door behind her and pauses, watching as Tom disappears down the corridor then, as soon as he turns the corner, she ducks back into the room. She grabs the key fob from the plate and tucks it into her pocket, then she hurries back out again, closing the door behind her.

Tightly clutching the key fob, Fran hurries along the grassy path that leads from the house to the car park. She turns frequently, to check she’s not being followed. Her eyes are drawn to Kate and Tom’s bedroom; the curtains are closed. It’s a first, Kate retiring to her room after serving up lunch. Is she plotting her next move? The thought makes Fran nervous. Kate’s already attempted murder and bribery. What’s left?

She hurries on. There isn’t time to unpick the inner workings of Kate’s mind.