‘Beau, we’ve been living with you for weeks now and some terrible things have happened to Kit, directly and indirectly. And yet he hasn’t released a single public statement defending or explaining his actions. People will say that if he was innocent, he would come out and defend himself.’

‘No. He won’t give them oxygen. Kit learned really quickly that the best tactic with our father was no engagement – no eye contact, no conversation . . . I guess that’s carried through . . . His whole life he’s had to be the strong one. He won’t buckle now.’

‘That sounds like a very . . . difficult way to live. You’re saying he’s emotionally shut-down.’

Beau shrugged. ‘It works for him. He knows who to trust and who not. He doesn’t let anyone close.’

‘Not even Amy Killicks?’

Beau’s eye twitched. They both remembered their brief conversation about her in Saas-Fee. ‘Not since her. He cared about her. He protected her . . . Which is what makes what she did so disgusting.’

‘You mean, her allegations that Kit beat her?’

‘Kit tried to help her! He never hurt her. She knows that. She knows she’s lying.’

‘But there are photographs showing—’

‘Her ex did it!’

‘Amy’s ex?’ Clover felt as if he’d pushed her off the chair. She felt like she was staring up at the ceiling, the world suddenly the wrong way up.

‘Kit took those photos himself, as proof. He kept trying to get Amy to take it to the cops. But she wouldn’t. She was too scared. The guy was well known in the area back then – known for being easy with his fists. He did jail time.’

Clover was wary of asking his name. Unless the accusation was proved, they could be sued for defamation. ‘And where is this man now?’

‘Dead. OD’d.’ He anticipated her next question. ‘Which is convenient, I know, as now he can’t contradict what she’s saying. Not that he would anyway. He’d have had no problems letting someone else take the fall.’ He gave a snort of contempt. ‘But yeah, he’s dead.’

Clover was silent for a moment. ‘So then, if what you’re saying is true. If those pictures showed the beating Amy took from her ex, I guess the question we should really be asking is – why would she do this to Kit? If he loved her and only ever wanted to look after her . . . why hurt him like that?’

Beau’s jaw pulsed. ‘I don’t know.’

‘. . . Her life has moved on. She’s married. She’s wealthy – she doesn’t need the money . . . Why do this now?’

‘I don’t know.’ His voice had a growl to it – frustration and anger beginning to surge.

‘Do you know why they broke up?’

Beau sighed. ‘No.’

‘Beau, you can’t seriously expect people to believe that.’

‘It’s true.’