‘Do you know what, Josephine? Patrick Costello said something to me many years ago, and I never understood the real meaning of it until recently. You were just at your hoarding stage, and I was really worried about you, about your mental health. He knew that, and we were out one night, and he said to me, “Always remember this, Michael – people only do to you what you let them.” I didn’t understand what he meant until recently. He was a wise fucking man in some ways – mad as a fucking Russian road map – but he had you sussed out right, lady.’

Josephine could not believe that her Jessie was dead. It wasn’t something she had ever contemplated, but now a part of her was relieved. It meant that Jake would now be wholly hers – hers and Michael’s. He was the son they had never had.

‘I can’t believe what you’re telling me, Michael. My baby girl, my Jessie is dead. Poor Jake. He’s an orphan. We are all he’s got left.’

Michael shook his head angrily. ‘Oh, save it for someone who cares! Jake will survive, I will see to that. But I’m warning you now, Josephine, you are going to the nut farm, and this time I’m not going to stop it. If you don’t go, then I will turn my back on you completely. Do you hear me? I’m deadly serious this time. I will never forgive you, Josephine, for what happened to our Jessie – for not even trying to let me know immediately when you heard from that cunt who was holding her hostage. You put yourself first as always, and I know now that you always will. You’re going to end up a lonely old woman because I’m finished with you. Any love I had for you – and I loved you with all my heart – has died. It’s gone.’

Josephine jumped from her chair, and she tried to grab her husband’s hands. She couldn’t live without him, without her Michael. He was the only thing that she really cared about.

But he pushed her away from him, unwilling to even touch her. ‘I’m arranging with your shrink that if you don’t go into hospital voluntarily in the next five days, I will have you sectioned. I can do that, Josephine, and I fucking will if I have to. Don’t bank on your latest shrink to get you out of it. I pay him, and he will do whatever I ask him to.’

She sat back in her chair, panic overwhelming her. He meant every word he was saying, and she didn’t know how she could stop him. He turned away from her in disgust.