‘He’d fucked up. I caught him … ‘ Pain crossed his face.

‘What?’

‘Embezzling.’

‘Embezzling?’ It was hard to hear him above the banging house music.

‘Yes. That’s why we fell out.’

‘I thought it was you.’

‘Me?’ He stared at me. ‘Why?’

‘Because you were creeping around. And I heard you arguing. That day you had the Oasis tune in the studio. And because he said – you messed up once before, didn’t you?’

‘When?’

‘When the record label nearly went under.’

‘Is that what he said? I was trying to help him, Rose. He’d screwed up so badly.’

‘That’s why you took my kids?’ I said slowly. ‘For leverage.’

‘No.’ But his pale skin was blotchy now. ‘To shock him.’

‘To shock him? What about shocking me?’

‘I didn’t think it through. I was so angry with him for risking everything. I’m sorry, Rose.’

‘It’s a bit late for sorry, Liam!’ I tried to push down the fury again. I needed cold hard facts. ‘So where did the money go?’

‘He’s got extravagant tastes. He’s been gambling again. You know what he’s like.’

‘Gambling?’

‘And playing the stock market. Bad timing,’ he said ruefully. ‘Tens of thousands. More.’

‘More?’ I was aghast.

‘Spread-betting. Putting money into young ventures that went down. He’d been fucking up all over the show. And he’s been hit like the best of them by the bloody recession that’s coming. Look at the US. Nomad going down was the final straw. I think he lost a million that day, at least.’

I remembered that spring day in the kitchen, Radio Four’s bleak announcement. The hidden bank statements; the rejected credit cards. How could I have been so blind? I’d stupidly just put it all down to James’s normal relaxed attitude.

‘But I thought you were doing so well.’

‘We are. But James – he’s been getting out of control. He just won’t listen, that’s the bloody problem.’ He waved a gurning DJ away who was trying to high-five him. ‘In a minute, mate. I mean, that party, Rose. How the fuck much did that cost?’

‘I don’t know.’ Forlorn with misery, I’d hardly batted an eyelid as the costs mounted. I’d assumed James had it covered. I hadn’t cared, that much was true. I’d simply been limping through the days since Danny disappeared. ‘I thought the party was both your idea?’

‘No way. It was so stupid. We’d just lost a backer because he saw James get so fucked up at the club.’

‘How?’

‘Too loud, too drunk. Snorting coke blatantly off the seats. He’d met that girl, Katya. There was something about her. Something that really bothered him. Like he was drawn to her but not; like some …’

‘What?’