When I think of Avril Ryan arriving at Huntley Lodge expecting to meet me and Tara, a shiver travels deep through my body. The poor woman must have got the fright of her life when Andriu opened the door. The man had robbed her of everything she had, including her confidence, then disappeared into thin air when she found the courage to take him to court. Avril would not have stood a chance against him. Andriu would have been well prepared, knowing that if Avril Ryan did ever get to speak to us, his true character would be revealed. His depraved past, out in the open.

I thought it was the end of my life when he left. How wrong I was. Avril Ryan tried to save me from him and it turns out she did. Her death forced him to abandon his plans to manipulate me, to control my money and my life. He had to run away in case the body was discovered. But he couldn’t just leave us like that. He had to destroy my friendship with Tara. He wanted us to be enemies so he could easily manipulate an alternative reality of what happened the day Avril Ryan was killed.

Andriu knew that if he let me think it was Tara he had slept with he would drive a wedge between us. End our friendship. If Avril’s body was discovered, his plan to frame Tara would be easier if she and I were not in touch and hated one another. But then, when the body was eventually discovered and he found out that I wasn’t the respectable Dr Faye Connolly he was expecting to find, he switched plans. I became his perfect candidate – unhinged, alcoholic Faye, driven mad with guilt about what I had done. A credible murderer. Andriu decided to frame me for Avril Ryan’s murder and it almost worked. But there’s one thing he didn’t allow for. Tara and I had been friends since we were kids. She knew me.

Tara is hugging me, the warmth of her body a welcome, familiar comfort. We stand, locked in our embrace, afraid to let go of one another. I see my father a few feet away. His tall strong frame stands like a warrior against the dark night. Mam is with him. Crying, of course. Crying like me. I let go of Tara and rush over to them. They both embrace me, wrapping me up between them, making me feel safe.

In the distance I see a man running towards us. It’s Lucas. He rushes over to Tara and holds her tightly.

‘I’ll be back in a minute,’ I say, unlocking myself from the comfort of my parents and walking over to Tara and Lucas. Tara can barely speak she’s crying so heavily in his arms. I place my hand on her back and offer my other hand to Lucas.