‘It’s Ewan,’ she said. Her hand shaking, she unlocked the phone and clicked on the message icon.

All I can say is that I’m sorry for any distress I have caused you, or will cause you. It won’t be long until it’s all out. You have to know that I never lied about your writing. You have a great talent.

She read the message out loud, unsure of what to take from it.

‘What the holy hell is that supposed to mean?’ Noah asked. ‘“Distress I have caused you or will cause you?” What the hell? Call him back. He’s clearly at his phone, so call him back and ask him to explain.’

Jo read the message again and she did contemplate calling Ewan, but she realised she didn’t want to hear his voice. She didn’t want to hear any platitudes from him. He could’ve explained everything to her in a message, but he hadn’t. He had tried to butter her up with his talk of her talent.

She wondered how many other people, other writers, he was softening up at that moment. His text could’ve been a copy and paste of a message he’d sent to countless others for all she knew. He wasn’t genuine. Even when he had talked about his son, his life and his inspirations. It hadn’t been genuine and she didn’t want to give him any more of her time.

‘I’ll speak to him if you want,’ Noah said. ‘It wouldn’t take a wrinkle out of me to put him in his place.’

Jo just shook her head. As much as she was thankful for his offer, the thought of him going in all guns blazing made her cringe. He was loyal to the extreme and would take no prisoners. ‘No, it’s fine, Noah. Honest. I’ll talk to Graham and see what he has to say. I’ll make my decision about what to do as regards Ewan then.’

‘Well, I’ll tell you what I’m going to do,’ Libby said. ‘I’m going downstairs and I’m taking all of his books off the shelves. He’ll not be selling any more titles through Once Upon A Book.’

Jo thought of the table display of Ewan’s books, from his first novel to the latest, that was still well stocked after the reading. The thought that Libby was willing to remove them all from sale made Jo want to give her a huge hug. ‘You don’t have to,’ she said. ‘But I appreciate the sentiment.’

‘Oh, I do have to,’ Libby announced. ‘If these rumours are true, I don’t want anything to do with him. I’m just so sorry I interfered.’