‘He took them away. Made people think I was bonkers. He had me thinking that I was dirty. The worst person in the world.’ I focus on her hands. ‘Had me scrubbing my house. He took them anyway. They’ve been living with his mother for the past year. That’s what all this is about, love. It’s not about you and all his other women.’

Sheer panic. She’s beside herself now, on the edge of her seat.

‘That’s impossible. He told me he picks Jamie up when he picks your two up. So they can all be together. A family. He told me that you had met Jamie. That he liked you.’

I don’t say anything. I let it sink in.

‘Yeah. That’s the sort of thing he would say. And God help you if you disagree with him. You’ll end up like me. Sitting in a stranger’s front room with a wig on because you’re too scared to go home. Then there’s the police. Been to see you, have they? Warned you I might turn up? So why did you let me in?’ She doesn’t have to answer. I know why she let me in. Because, like me, underneath all that calm, composed exterior, she is seething. She can’t believe that Jack simply walked out and left her. She knows we have something in common. I lean forward. ‘Between you and me, I think he’s dangerous. Why do you think the police are so worried about me?’ I put my hand on her arm. ‘I can help you, Katy. He’s doing the same to you as he did to me. And God knows how many others.’

But she jumps up and grabs her car keys from the table. I watch as she leaves the front door open and runs down the path. She jumps in the shiny red car and disappears to rescue her son.

Chapter Thirty

I know I’m right. Just the fact that she’s left me, the crazy ex, in her house, proves it. I look around. This was the other home, then. Where he stayed while he told me he was abroad.

In the kitchen, the cupboard under the sink is packed to the brim with every kind of household cleaner you can think of. No cups or plates on the drainer. This is a show home and Katy is on the edge of her nerves.

With my new distance I know how he did it. With Katy, anyway. He wove a web of lies. He told her that I knew. Once I had the answers, I was going to post the pictures on the thread of shame and expose Katy. Her laptop is open on the table. I tap it. It comes to life and I see that she’s logged into Facebook following Alicia’s thread of #cheatingbastard comments. More than a thousand now.