‘The lab results have just come back,’ she says, as she ends the call. ‘And it’s been confirmed that a partial print we found in Mr Talbot’s blood in his kitchen is an exact match for a pair of shoes we found in your home.’

I look at her dumbfounded as Leon calls out, ‘No, that can’t be true.’

‘Naomi Chandler, I’m arresting you on suspicion of kidnap and murder. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court.’

As I’m led out of the tent in handcuffs, a woman with long blonde hair looks as if she might approach me but thinks better of it. Instead she raises her hand awkwardly as I pass by, and in that moment I realize that even after all these years, I’d know that face anywhere. She’s just a grown-up version of the little girl I left behind.

EPILOGUE

The two police officers, who I’ve come to despise for their ineptitude, are staring at me across the desk in the interview room. It surely can’t be hard to see what’s going on here – it should be an open and shut case, yet still they persist in asking me stupid questions.

‘So you have never encountered Naomi Chandler before last night,’ says Robson, for the umpteenth time.

‘Not in person, no,’ I say, careful to give them everything they need without them even realizing they need to know it.

‘Yet you obviously knew of her?’

I nod. ‘Only when Michael eventually admitted that they’d had an affair, but that it had been a terrible mistake and she wouldn’t leave him alone.’

‘We’ve recovered a file that Mrs Chandler says she discovered on her laptop,’ says Harris, his beady little eyes alight. ‘Of herself in a rather compromising position.’ He licks his lips and I almost feel sorry for her. ‘Engaged in a sexual act.’

I cover my eyes theatrically. ‘Oh, please don’t tell me she’s with Michael,’ I say. ‘I couldn’t bear it.’

Robson clears her throat. ‘No, I can assure you she isn’t, but we weren’t quite able to work out how it had been filmed.’

Robson and Naomi both, I imagine. I hadn’t meant to use the video. I hadn’t expected to get it, if I’m honest – it was something of a surprise bonus that I thought might come in handy to drive a wedge between Naomi and Leon. Not that I needed to – I had more than enough evidence to use against her – but I knew it would all work much more in my favour if a bit of discord was created in their relationship as well.