‘It didn’t go very well today, did it?’ Maggie fixed Amy with a stare.

‘No, I don’t suppose it did.’

‘I wonder what will happen to the book club now.’

‘I don’t care. It stopped being fun some time ago. Toni’s death just brought it all out in the open.’

‘Shirl really is a cow.’

‘I know. I can’t believe she used to be my friend. What was I thinking?’

‘You’re trusting. You like to see the good in people.’

‘Well, I’m certainly less trusting now.’ Amy went over to the fridge and removed the bottle of white wine. ‘I just don’t get where it all went wrong,’ she said, pouring herself a glass.

‘I think I know.’

‘Do tell?’ Amy sipped the cold wine, savouring the taste.

‘It was when you started writing. She didn’t like it.’

‘Why?’

‘No idea, but that was when she started being bitchy.’

‘She said she’d wanted to write a book but never actually started one. You did. I think that pissed her off.’

‘That’s insane.’

‘Maybe so,’ Maggie agreed, ‘but that’s when she changed.’

Amy shrugged and took another sip.

‘How is the book coming along by the way?’

‘Slowly. I’m caught up in research at the moment, which is slowing me down.’

‘I can’t wait to read it.’

‘If I ever finish it!’

‘You will. I have faith.’

‘Can you believe what Kim said about Toni having an affair? What was she thinking?’

‘I know. Kim kept that quiet!’

‘I wonder if Gerald knows?’

‘Doubt it. Probably wouldn’t believe it anyway. He thought the sun shone out of her arse.’

‘Well, if that’s the case, I hope he never finds out. Let him look at the world with rose-tinted glasses. It doesn’t matter now.’

8

4.30pm 23 June

DCI Barrett and DI Palmer arrived outside Number 9, Ditton Way and Palmer killed the engine.

‘Time to speak to Mr Jones again,’ Barrett said, getting out of the car.

The men approached the bungalow and knocked on the door. Julie, the FLO, answered it.

‘Hello, sir.’ She stepped back, letting the detectives in. ‘He’s sitting at the kitchen table.’

When Barrett and Palmer went into the kitchen they found Gerald staring at a photograph of Toni that he was holding in his hand.

‘Good afternoon.’ Barrett cleared his throat, announcing their arrival.

Gerald looked up slowly, his face grey and his eyes red.

‘We need to talk to you about Toni’s first marriage.’ Barrett sat on a chair opposite Gerald. ‘We’ve spoken to Mike Williams, her first husband. He tells us that their marriage ended because Toni had an affair. Can you tell us anything more about this?’

‘An affair?’ Gerald looked perplexed. ‘He had an alcohol problem. That’s why she left.’

‘No, Mr Williams has told us that he discovered she was having an affair and that was why the marriage ended.’