Tom laughs: a proper, hearty, belly deep laugh. ‘You’ve just shaved a good ten minutes off my talk there. If you needed a refreshment break you only needed to ask.’

A frown settles on Geraldine’s forehead. ‘I don’t need the loo if that’s what you’re implying. I just—’

‘Excuse me.’ The round woman in the rainbow jumper on the end of the row leans around the man sitting next to her to glare at Geraldine. ‘We’ve paid to be here and I’d like to hear what Tom has to say. It’s rude to interrupt.’

Geraldine raises her eyebrows. ‘Well, you just interrupted me.’

‘Ladies, please!’ As Tom holds up his hands in friendly protest, Kate sits up straighter. There’s been friction between participants in previous retreats but never this early on. ‘Ladies? Seriously?’

Geraldine transfers her glare from Joy to Tom. ‘Instead of sitting there patronising us maybe you could answer a question?’

Joy attempts to interrupt but Tom holds up a silencing hand. ‘What’s your question, Geraldine?’

‘You mentioned that two people died at the retreat in Gozo.’

‘That’s right.’

Tom glances at Kate, panic in his eyes, but before she can help him Geraldine asks another question.

‘What about Jenna Fitzgerald?’

Chapter 12

Now

FRAN

A shaft of bright sunlight creeps through the partly drawn curtains and illuminates Tom’s face, spotlighting his discomfort. He rubs his lips together, licks them and swallows, his sharp Adam’s apple clearly visible above the navy curve of his crew-necked jumper. Something inside Fran tightens. He knows something. It’s radiating off him like heat. As she continues to wait for an answer she becomes aware of a sharp pain in her left arm and turns at the exact moment Phoenix jabs her with his index finger.

‘What?’ she snaps.

He holds a hand to his mouth, masking his lips from everyone else in the room. ‘Why are you asking about Jenna?’

Fran tuts and looks back towards Tom who’s having his own sotto voce conversation with his wife. Fran clears her throat. If they think she’s going to let this drop then they’re very much mistaken.

‘Geraldine.’ Tom rises from his chair. ‘Shall we have a little chat?’ He gestures towards the front door.

Fran gets up too then pauses. She’s not sure she wants to be alone with such an odious, slimy excuse of a man. She’d much rather have this out in public where everyone can witness him sweating and stuttering but, before she can object, Kate announces that it’s time for a refreshment break and suddenly everyone is on their feet and heading to the kitchen area.

‘Geri.’ Phoenix taps her on the arm, making her shudder. What is it with total strangers and their constant need to touch?

‘What is it?’ she snaps again.

‘Are you okay? You’re trembling.’