I realised slowly he was looking aghast.

‘I wouldn’t ask … ‘ My voice trailed off into a trickle. ‘Only I’m starting to feel a bit desperate.’

‘It’s a bit complicated.’ His voice seemed harsh. ‘We keep our money very separate, James and I.’

I looked at him in surprise.

‘Really?’ It made no sense to me. But how could I challenge him? ‘I’m sorry. I guess I – I shouldn’t have asked.’

‘Rose, it’s just – it’s complicated.’

‘Really? Complicated like when you took the kids from my mum’s?’ I held his eye; he flushed unattractively. ‘Just tell me the truth, Liam. I’m so tired of all the bloody lies.’

‘OK.’ He took a deep breath. ‘I took them to scare James. I’m sorry, Rose.’ He saw my furious face and held up a hand. ‘Look, I know it was shit, and I should have thought harder about you. But I was fucked off with him, so fucked off with him, and I was panicking. I couldn’t get through any other way.’

‘To scare him?’ I was confused. ‘Why?’

Star appeared at the top of the stairs dressed in an electric-blue thong and little else, her brown-tipped bosoms too big and pendulous for her tiny frame, a gold crucifix dangling between them like a third eye. I averted my gaze.

‘All right, Rose?’ She seemed uncomfortable too, although not about her blatant nudity. ‘I’m sorry about … you know.’

‘Thank you,’ I said to her feet. ‘And how are you?’

‘OK.’ She shrugged and yawned like a small cat. ‘Bit tired. I’d love to chat, but I’m gonna be late. I’m going for a bath.’

I thought of something. ‘Star?’

‘Yeah?’ The girl turned, her bosoms swinging softly.

‘Did you – did you see Katya’s parents? The other day. Are they all right? Do you know when the funeral is? I’d like to send something.’

‘Her parents?’ She wrinkled her brow. ‘No. Why would I have seen them?’

‘Go and put the bath on, love,’ Liam interrupted quickly. ‘I’ll bring you a cuppa up in a sec.’

‘’K.’ She wandered off, tiny buttocks tight like halved peanuts.

‘Liam, what … ?’ I shook my head in confusion. ‘You said Star was going to let them know, didn’t you?’

‘Yeah.’ He busied himself with tea leaves. ‘God, I never know what you do with all of this. Star insists on the bloody green stuff but it’s so foul.’

Through the open window a girl’s laughter floated in from the street below, a carefree kind of laugh. I felt a stab of jealousy.

‘Liam! For God’s sake!’

‘Star didn’t know Katya,’ he said flatly. ‘I just – I was trying to make you feel better.’

‘About what?’

‘About a girl dying in your front room.’

‘But I thought she was Star’s friend?’

‘Nope. That’s just what James wanted you to think.’