“He said he was separated, and that his wife had serious mental problems. He said he still lived with her because he was basically her carer, and he needed time to get her sorted out with someone to look after her. I didn’t know about the babies until they were almost born.” She was tense, her lips puckered into a mean little o.

“You didn’t know about the fact that his wife was pregnant?”

“No. Not until she was almost ready to pop.”

“Anyone would be angry.”

“Yes.”

“It’s understandable to want to try to get at him.”

“Well, yes, but not like this.”

“Lauren’s an easy target. And she’s the one who gets to keep him. I can see why you might lash out at her, at the babies. They’re all that’s standing between you and a happy life with Patrick.”

Natasha laughed mirthlessly. “This is stupid. Anyway, I don’t know her. I’ve never met her. I don’t even know what she looks like.”

“You’ve never seen a photo of her and Patrick together? You’ve never searched her name on social media? These are things I can easily check, on your phone and your laptop.”

Natasha stuck her lip out, a petulant child. “Fine. I know what she looks like.”

“So you saw her in the valley today? You recognised her?”

Natasha didn’t respond. Crace whispered something in her ear. “No comment,” she mumbled.

“You followed her in your car, didn’t you?”

“No comment.”

“Where were you on the thirteenth of July?”

“No … July? Why are you asking me about July?”

“The date means nothing to you?”

“I don’t know. It was ages ago.”

“According to the messages on your phone, Patrick dumped you that night. It was also the day his twins were born.”

“Well, you know already then. I was being dumped. Drowning my sorrows, if I remember rightly.”

“In the text messages there’s a conversation where you threaten to go to his house. He says he’s at the hospital. You say, and I quote, well maybe I’ll come there then.”

“I didn’t go there, of course I didn’t. Is that what you think?”

“Patrick’s wife thinks someone came on to the maternity ward that night and threatened her. I’ve heard evidence that backs up that claim, and I’ll be getting it analysed very soon. Whose voice do you think I’ll find on that tape, Natasha?”

“From what Patrick’s told me about his nutjob of a wife,” said Natasha, “I couldn’t say. I expect you’ll find that it’s a figment of her crazy imagination.”

Chapter 26

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX