‘But that’s impossible. I’ve never had any bag. Or pictures. None of this has anything to do with me. To be honest, I’m more concerned about those threatening messages and the photographs of me. I have my rights. They could be after me.’

‘You do understand that I have to check, though, don’t you?’

So far I’ve been as helpful as possible. I’ve been friendly and pliable and told her everything I know.

‘I do, but as I said this morning, this has gone too far. I’m scared of going home. This could be anyone. God knows there are enough bitter women involved to make a bloody army of suspects. So why me?’

‘You’re the only one he has accused.’

‘Of course I am. You’ve read the file. You know exactly what the deal is with me and Jack. He’d do anything to keep his glowing reputation. Usually at my cost. You must see that from our history.’

She pauses. I visualise her nodding into her phone.

‘But that would give you a motive, wouldn’t it?’

She’s gone to a point beyond where she should have. She’s telling me her game plan, so she can’t believe it.

‘No. That’s the thing. He beat me in court. He had me in court and took my children. You’ve seen how I live. It’s all I can do just to survive.’

It all screams that I’m the victim here, I’m the one who is being wrongly accused. Again. She’s not stupid. She knows there is something wrong with all this. But she has to prove it, and she can’t.

‘Yeah, I know. Look. I don’t want to do this on the phone. I’ll pop round.’

Of course you don’t. You want to see my reactions. My body language. Shit. I’ve just told her that I’ve gone for a drive but my own car is parked outside my house.

‘Give me an hour. I need to go to the supermarket.’

‘Oh, it’s OK. I’ll just wait outside till you get back.’

She ends the call. Shit. Shit. Shit. I jump in the car and reverse, screeching the tyres. I throw the vehicle around corners at speed and down, down, down towards town. When I’m a few streets away I call at a local shop and pick up some milk, then park up. I can see my house from here and her blue Yaris is parked up in my road. I hurry around the back of the trees and towards the shop.