Sara chewed on her lip as little pieces of information gathered together, starting to make a clearer picture in her mind. ‘I told you James and Fiona had an affair, didn’t I? She told me to be careful of him. Said he had “evil little ways”. But James said he was the one who dumped her, so that doesn’t make sense. I wonder… What if she’s the one with the evil little ways and he wasn’t interested in playing?’

Hailey’s mouth opened and closed. Her face crumpled into a mask of disbelief. ‘You think Fiona’s behind all this?’

‘It’s possible, isn’t it?’ Really, it was the only theory they had to go on, if they’d discounted James from being involved. And the more she thought about it, the more it made sense.

‘Well, it’s pretty twisted if she is. Especially with the video of Milly in the shower being spread around.’ Hailey pulled a disgusted face. ‘That’s just sick.’

They stood in silence for a moment, working through the implications.

‘Do you think he might have gone to her?’ Sara said. ‘To Center Parcs?’

Hailey tapped her lips with her fingers as she thought. ‘Well, it’s a good place to hide. And he could just say he’d decided to surprise the girls.’

‘Or he might be watching us now. Waiting for us to go so he can come home.’ Sara gave a harsh laugh. ‘Not that he’ll be able to get in.’

‘He’s not going to stay around here now we know what he’s been doing, is he? He’ll expect the police to be after him at the very least.’

Sara’s thoughts clashed together like a rousing finale of cymbals as her conscience was pulled in different directions. ‘I can’t deal with this. I can’t live with myself if I think all this awful stuff is out there and it’s still going on. I just need to go to the police. Take my chances.’ She caught Hailey’s eye, unsure what her sister was thinking. ‘The whole thing about me stealing the money might not even come out. I don’t think James will say anything. He’s clearly scared to death at the moment.’

Hailey stared at her for a moment, her voice measured when she spoke. ‘Well, if he’s worried what they might do to him if he talks, don’t you think you should start to focus on what might happen to you?’

Sara stared at her sister, fear gripping her throat as her words sank in.

Am I in danger too? And what about my family?

Chapter Thirty-Six

It took a moment for Sara to find her voice, panic whipping her words away, making her heart race.