‘What have we said about knocking?’ Theodor blew out the smoke as though he couldn’t care less about Fabian being there.

‘Don’t you think I know what you’re doing? Huh? Don’t you think I can see right through you and your little play-acting now you have Mummy on your side?’

Theodor heaved a sigh.

‘You seem to think you can do whatever you want. That the coast’s clear because Mum’s too tired to take this conflict. But this isn’t working.’

‘What do you mean, not working? What the fuck are you on about?’

‘This! What the fuck did you think I was talking about?’ Fabian spread his hands. ‘Shutting yourself up in here, incapable of doing anything other than play video games, eat crisps and get fatter and fatter. Not even trying to hide the cigarette when you’re caught smoking. The stench when you open the door and step into this pigsty. I’m talking about you, Theo! You and the self-pitying fucking martyr’s act you’re apparently going in for.’

‘Right. Okay. You done?’

‘No, I’m not. Far from it. And I want you to look at me when I’m talking to you.’ He grabbed Theodor’s chin and forced him to meet his eyes. ‘There are limits, and you’ve crossed so many I’ve had enough.’

‘Right, that’s sad for you, I guess.’

‘And you! Primarily you. Because from now on, you will face the consequences of your decisions.’

‘What do you mean, my decisions?! The whole problem is I didn’t have a choice!’

‘You always have a choice. And you chose to pull up your hood and join them instead of coming to me.’

‘To you?’

‘Yes, to me! If you had done, we could have arrested them before they took another life.’

‘Who the fuck are you trying to fool?’ Theodor wrenched free of Fabian’s grasp. ‘As if I’ve ever been able to come to you for help.’