‘I’m sorry to just barge in,’ she said. ‘I know it’s way too soon for flowers, I just, it was such a shock, when Maggie called me yesterday. Murdered … my god. Right here in Woodstock. I mean, I know that people were mad at him, after … but god, murder.’ She fidgeted with a windswept curl before sinking her hand into Dusty’s fur. ‘I was friends with John, too, you know, and I couldn’t just sit there, alone, wondering how Sam, how he –’ Her voice broke. ‘I just had to do something.’

‘Sam Alby?’ I asked.

Rachel shook her head. ‘I don’t even know. I just know Sam was so mad, after what happened with Claire. I guess he was the first person I thought of.’

I nodded, and in a crazy way I hoped she was right. That it was Sam, that the police were questioning him – arresting him – right now. That Ellie had kept her promise and hadn’t told Davis. That the awfulness of what had happened had not been caused by me.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said again. ‘I’m not trying to play detective, I swear. I’m just in shock.’

‘It’s okay,’ I said. ‘Really. We all are.’

‘Thank you.’ She adjusted herself on the sofa, tugging at her pashmina. It was hard to imagine her and Vera being friends – they seemed so different: Vera precise, perfect, almost hard, everywhere that Rachel was soft and forgiving.

‘You were with him, the day it, the day it happened?’ Rachel asked, reaching for her tea. ‘On a hike?’

I nodded. ‘Yes, Vera too. Both of us were. John disappeared, and we thought he’d fallen.’

‘God, it must have been awful. That hike. It’s terrifying in that spot.’

My eyebrows knitted together, and Rachel immediately picked up on my confusion.

‘Sorry,’ she said. ‘My ex always told me I had a sixth sense for these things. Was it not up on that hike they always went to? The one off Chapel Road? We must have gone, god, countless times. When Maggie said he disappeared on a hike, I mean, before he was found, I just assumed …’

I swallowed slowly, my eyes never leaving hers. ‘Sorry, yes, that’s where it was. I forgot you guys were so close.’

Rachel blinked back tears. ‘We were close, and it’s crazy how fast that can change. I wish I could be the sort of friend Vera needs right now.’ Her eyes caught mine and she raised her cup to her lips, printing the rim with color. ‘I’m glad she has you.’

Her words fell flat. She swallowed, took another sip of tea. ‘You’ve probably wondered why we aren’t friends anymore. Unless Vera already told you.’

‘I did wonder,’ I said. ‘But Vera wouldn’t tell me.’