At the front of the album, Dean spotted a picture of his mother holding him when he was a baby. He slipped it out and put it in his wallet. He wanted something to remind him of her.

Looking down at the two bags that contained the disappointing contents of his life, Dean punched and kicked the wall until his knuckles bled, before collecting his bags and leaving the flat for the last time.

‘Amy, Christ! Come here,’ Johnny bellowed from the kitchen. He was attempting to soothe the atmosphere by making his wife lunch. Black pudding, poached eggs and broad beans were on the menu.

Amy appeared in the doorway.

‘The body they found today, it’s Janet Cox.’ Johnny looked ridiculous wearing his wife’s floral apron. Amy couldn’t help but smile at the sight of him, before his words began to sink in.

‘What did you say?’

‘Janet. The body in the river. The police are saying it was Janet.’

Amy walked across the kitchen like a zombie, before sitting down at the large, industrial, pine table.

Johnny, who was torn between comforting his wife and making sure the eggs weren’t overcooked, decided to turn down the gas and attend to Amy.

‘This is getting creepy now.’ Amy looked at him with a horrified expression. ‘Two from the book club? That can’t be a coincidence.’ She put her face into her hands and Johnny put his arm around her shoulders as they began to shake up and down.

‘I didn’t even like Janet,’ Amy sobbed.

‘I know.’ Johnny was relieved his wife was allowing him to comfort her. There had been so much friction between them.

‘What is going on? I don’t feel safe. I want to get out of here, get away from Cambridge. It feels like the walls are closing in.’

‘Whatever you want,’ Johnny soothed. ‘We could go and stay with my brother, up in Scotland. The break would do you the world of good.’

‘Don’t.’ He felt her body tense and she shrugged him away. ‘Just don’t,’ she repeated.

‘So now I can’t even console you when you’re upset?’ Johnny stood and walked away, angry, considering leaving the house. He turned and faced his wife. ‘I can’t go on like this, Amy. Either you forgive me or this marriage is over.’

She looked up at her husband and thought for a moment. ‘Are you serious?’ She stood and placed a hand on her belly, reminding him what was at stake.

‘It was years ago. How long are you going to make me suffer for a mistake that is in the past? I wish I’d never told you.’

‘You wish you’d never told me, or you wish you’d never slept with that slut?’ Amy’s glare burned with anger, and Johnny, who was at the end of his tether, sank to his knees and pleaded with his wife.