When she pulled up outside Hailey’s house, she was glad to see the lights still on. It wasn’t late, just before ten, but Hailey went to bed early and got up early; an off-for-a-run-before-breakfast sort of person. She was slow to answer the door, opening it a crack, the security chain on as she peered out, suspicion written all over her face. She frowned when she saw it was Sara, clearly puzzled.

‘What are you doing here?’

‘Matt’s thrown me out,’ Sara said, before the words made it real and the tears started to fall. ‘Can I come in?’

She could hear Hailey muttering as she undid the security chain, scanning the street as if she was expecting trouble, before closing the door and locking it again as soon as Sara was inside. Bolts top and bottom, as well as the chain and the lock. A bit over-the-top, Sara had always thought, but Hailey’s work had repercussions at times, and a few years ago she’d been attacked in her home by a disgruntled father who’d decided it was her fault that his son had pressed charges for assault. It was that sort of clientele she was dealing with. Damaged and vulnerable children from dysfunctional families. She was passionate about it – above and beyond what was expected – and Sara always felt it was more her sister’s vocation than her job.

Sara followed her into the kitchen, where Hailey flicked on the kettle and grabbed a couple of mugs from the drainer; tea being her answer to every problem. Sara sank into a chair at the kitchen table, her head in her hands, body shaking from head to toe. How has it come to this? She still couldn’t comprehend what she’d seen in the video. After a minute, she pulled her phone from her pocket, hesitating before she tapped in her PIN to bring it to life, not sure if she could bring herself to look again.

Hailey came over with the tea. ‘Come on then. Tell me what’s going on.’

Sara let out a heavy sigh that seemed to come all the way from her toes. I’m going to have to tell her, she thought, holding her phone a little tighter.

‘I’m in a mess,’ she said to the table, shame burning her cheeks. ‘I thought I was helping. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time. But everything I’ve done has been flipped on its head, and now…’ She looked up at her sister, her voice hardly more than a whisper. ‘Matt thinks I’m having an affair.’

Hailey’s eyes widened and she froze on the spot, hands on the back of the chair she’d pulled out to sit on. ‘And are you?’