Had I, though? The evening she wet herself on the terrace, hadn’t that been my cue to step in? And what had I done? Nothing, thinking only of myself and how to get out of that house and on with my life. Never realising I’d be abandoning those kids to their fate. So yes, I was guilty too. Maybe that’s what the police had picked up on, all those years ago. The fact that, even if I hadn’t held the pillow or the knife, I was still not entirely innocent.

‘So who’s doing this?’ Alex frowned. ‘If you really think someone killed Anna to frame you? They’d be in America, surely, anyone to do with the case.’

‘That’s what I’m trying to find out. Jeremy’s here to help me.’

‘Oh, Jeremy.’ He sighed as if he’d forgotten about my ex-husband. ‘I don’t know, Rachel. What am I meant to believe? You didn’t tell me you were married, or that you spent years in a federal prison!’

‘It’s not the kind of thing you can just say!’ I cried, putting my face in my hands. ‘I wanted something normal, for once in my life. I wanted you.’

He softened at the break in my voice. ‘I know. But a lot’s happened. Anna’s dead. I mean, we had our differences, but – she was such a part of my life. And now all this. You have to give me a minute to process it, all right?’

‘OK. I can go – I just – needed you to know what’s going on. I’m as baffled as you are. And Anna – I didn’t know her, but she was your wife, Sam’s mum, you need to mourn her. I can disappear, for a while, if you need me to. But I have to know we’re not over, not for good.’ I heard my voice crack. ‘I have to know there’s something to fight for.’

Otherwise, why bother to clear my name at all? If I couldn’t have a normal life, fall in love, find some happiness, I may as well be in prison. If I couldn’t have him, what was the point of it all?

‘We’re not over,’ he said reluctantly, and I nodded, then got up and made myself walk out.

I’d hoped he might reach out for me, or touch me, but maybe that was too much to ask. All the same, I was happier as I headed home through the fresh morning, light skiffs of rain landing on my upturned face. When I got home I found Jeremy still snoring on the sofa and Brandy wagging her tail in a slightly aggrieved manner. It was seven – well past walk time. ‘Come on, then.’ I grabbed her lead, glad to get back to something like normal. All the same, I would not be taking that same woodland path, probably ever again.