Nadia bobbed her head from side to side. ‘I mean, in theory, yes. You’d leave a trace – credit card payment, or they could track your phone’s location – but in practice, no. They’d need access to a lot of information that they would have no way of getting. Unless you told someone where you were and they somehow found out from them, I’d say you’re pretty safe.’ She sipped her drink, a herbal tea of some kind. ‘I wouldn’t tell many people, if any. Keep it to yourself and you should be fine.’ She grinned. ‘And it’ll be fun! Some family time away from home. Change of scene.’

‘Yeah,’ Alice said. ‘It should be. Although Tom’s been’ – she chose her words carefully – ‘a bit erratic lately.’

Nadia leaned forward. ‘You mentioned that a while back. Is it still happening?’

‘Maybe he’s tired. I don’t want to talk behind his back. But – he’s been angry and upset – partly reasonably, given all that’s been going on. But part of it seems more than that. One night he was downstairs, his head in his hands, rocking back and forth while Jo screamed and screamed.’

‘What did he say about it?’

‘Nothing,’ Alice said. ‘He didn’t know I saw him, and I didn’t want to bring it up.’

Nadia raised an eyebrow. ‘I think you might be better talking to him about it.’

‘You’re right,’ Alice said. ‘But – it’s not easy.’

‘Listen,’ Nadia said. ‘People can act strangely when they’re under pressure. Often they get past it, but sometimes – well, I’ve seen it all in my job. If you think he’s struggling – with anything – you need to talk to him and get him some help.’

‘I don’t think it’s come to that, yet,’ Alice said.

‘I hope not,’ Nadia replied. ‘And if it has, I hope you don’t find out when it’s too late.’

Tom

Roland had a distant, glazed look in his eyes. Tom tensed. It was the way he had been when he was using.

He stood in the front hall and beckoned Tom inside. ‘Dad’s sleeping,’ he said. ‘Mum’s gone for a walk.’

‘And you’re taking advantage of the free time?’ Tom said. He had meant for it to sound jokey and light, a friendly reminder that he was watching his brother.

It did not come out like that. It sounded pointed and accusatory.

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ Roland said.

Tom closed his eyes. ‘Maybe you fell off the wagon. You seem a bit stoned.’