‘In her head, yes. Most of the time. But as for murdering him? I doubt it very much.’ She returned to the table and sat back down. ‘Look, my sister had a very bad time when she first came to the UK and she’s still – how should I put it? – pretty crazy from it. When you go through something like that, your ideal of normal changes. When you need money, you don’t ask questions. You snatch it and run.’ There was a look in her eye which told me that she had been in this situation herself; that life hadn’t ever been rosy with Simas, even in the honeymoon stage of their relationship. ‘My sister isn’t forgiving, and I don’t blame her one bit.’

‘Did anyone know that your husband was going to be in the shop yesterday?’

She shrugged. ‘We didn’t announce it, if that’s what you mean. We closed the shop because Simas had gripas. I had a hospital appointment for the baby, so I left him to it.’

‘Didn’t you want your husband to come to the hospital with you?’

She shook her head. ‘Simas didn’t want children.’

It wasn’t what I’d asked. ‘We spoke to your brother-in-law, Artem. How did you get on with him?’

She laughed. It was an irritated cackle. ‘If you spoke to him, you’ll know. Artem likes to make my life as difficult as he can, and that’s included causing trouble with Simas. He tried to kiss me twice when my husband was working and had the cheek to tell Simas that I tried to kiss him. I suppose because I rejected his advances, he’s hated me ever since. He laughs at me, like I’m stupid, saying that Simas still screws other women so why don’t I join his game?’

‘And did you?’ I was remembering the things that Artem had said about the baby’s father being anybody.

‘No, I didn’t. He’s a liar. He bad-mouths me to everyone. He’s either a bit of a psycho or he’s jealous.’

‘How did Simas and Artem get on?’

Here her face changed. ‘They were close. Brothers, you know? They watched each other’s backs. But something between them has always caused friction. I don’t know what it was.’

‘Did you tell your husband about Artem’s advances toward you?’

‘Taip. Simas was really angry. He didn’t want to believe me. He went to see Artem, who told him that I’d hit on him. Artem knew that his brother would believe him over me, and he did.’ She shrugged. Defeated. ‘Simas went to see Artem feeling furious with him and came home angry with me. Jis visiškai bastard. Artem has no respect for women. Not me. Not his wife. Not his kids.’ Her eyes closed as though thinking about the situation was painful, and she wanted to block it out.