‘Not me.’ Michael’s response was simple. Just a statement of fact. ‘I want you to take Sarah and Anne, but I’m not going with them.’

‘You’re what?’ Sarah could not quite believe what she was hearing, causing panic and anger to flare inside her. ‘What do you mean you’re not coming with us?’

Michael looked towards her and – for the first time since discovering Derek Reid’s body – he placed his hand onto hers.

‘I don’t know how else to put it, Sarah. I’m not coming. I want you and Anne safe and there’s no safer place than with Joelle’s people, at least until Hirst is caught. But I can’t go with you. I have to stay.’

‘What the hell are you talking about?!’ Sarah ripped her hand away and sent her chair tumbling against the patio slabs, horrified at what he was saying.

‘Is this because of Derek? Because I didn’t give Joelle Hirst’s name? Michael, please, you can . . . you can . . . blame me for that all you want. God knows I do. Leave me if you can’t forgive me. But you can’t put your life in danger over that. You can’t.’

The thought that Michael might be unable to forgive her for not informing Levy of Hirst’s release – and for what had happened to Derek Reid as a result – would break her heart. But she would suffer that – she would suffer anything – if it kept Michael alive. And so she had meant every painful word she had said.

Michael rose from his seat, but when he spoke his voice was gentle.

‘Sarah, believe me, this has nothing to do with you not giving Hirst’s name to Joelle. Jesus, what difference would that have made? Derek was dead before I ever mentioned Hirst to you. If anything I’m to blame for that; for being too complacent about his imprisonment. Not you.

‘And I’ve no intention of leaving you. I love you, Sarah. Regardless of whatever happened and whatever happens. Nothing is going to change that. But I still can’t go. I can’t sit in a safe house where I can’t do any good. You’ll be safe whether I’m there or not. Safer, probably; he’s after me, not you. Me being there just puts both of you in more danger. But if I go – if I leave now – then Simon Kash’s trial will collapse. They’ll discharge the jury and they’ll start again, and if they do that then things will never go so well a second time. I can’t do that to Simon. I can’t take away an innocent kid’s best chance at justice.’

‘You’re going to put that boy ahead of your own family?’ Sarah shouted. Her head was reeling at the thought of losing Michael. ‘He can get another lawyer for God’s sake. It’s not like you’re the only one who can save him!’

‘You know I didn’t say that, Sarah. And you know I’d never do that. I—’