‘A while back . . . Jasmine showed me the spare key,’ whimpered Carmen, quailing before Murphy’s anger.

‘Why are you here?’ Murphy stepped out of the room, gesturing for her to leave, struggling to force his temper back under control. ‘Can you get out of my house, please? You’ll only get me in more trouble.’

‘That’s why I’m here.’

‘No.’ He walked through the dining room, opening the front door wide. ‘You need to leave.’

‘Please, Mr Murphy.’ Carmen followed him but stopped short of the door. ‘I know you didn’t take the girls. I know you’re not what everyone is saying.’

‘I need you to go!’ He didn’t mean to roar the last word and regretted the way it made her squeal and jump back. But he kept his hand on the handle of the open door.

‘You heard him,’ said Butch, leaning against the doorway. He folded his arms and stood taller.

‘No,’ said Carmen shakily. ‘I have something to tell you . . . I-I know who Cierra was sleeping with . . .’

‘Then you need to go tell the police, not me,’ said Murphy. ‘Please, leave before someone sees you here.’

‘The condoms were just . . . just a bit of a joke, I think . . .’

‘Go.’

‘I know you weren’t sleeping with Cierra because she . . . well, because . . . Cierra was sleeping with Miss Ellis!’

There was a moment of silence. Murphy’s hand dropped off the door handle.

Butch slipped where he was leaning against the doorway, swearing loudly.

Murphy’s mouth opened and shut. ‘That . . . doesn’t make any sense. Eliza isn’t . . . she’s not a . . . is she?’

‘Cierra is not straight,’ said Carmen firmly. ‘Cierra and Miss Ellis were . . .’

‘This is bloody perfect,’ said Butch. ‘We need to go down to the station. You’ll tell the detective this, won’t you?’

Carmen nodded quickly. ‘Yeah. Of course.’

‘No,’ said Murphy suddenly.

‘Sorry?’ said Butch.

‘We’re not telling the cops.’

‘Why the fuck not?’ shouted Butch.

‘Eliza couldn’t have taken the girls,’ he said. ‘She had that blow to the back of the head. She couldn’t have done it. And I don’t believe for a second that she’s . . . that she’d —’

‘Sleep with another chick?’ said Butch.

‘Sleep with a student,’ said Murphy. ‘She’s a good person. A good teacher.’

‘That detective needs to know! And it’ll take the heat off you —’

‘Exactly!’ shouted Murphy above Butch’s increasing volume. ‘You’ve seen what they did to me. If this comes out about Eliza, she’ll be lynched in the streets —’

‘So she fucking should,’ shouted Butch. ‘And they’ll leave you alone!’

‘No, Butch . . . This . . . this is my decision to make.’ Murphy leaned forward so his face was level with Carmen. ‘I need you to promise not to tell anyone else.’

‘How the hell is this your decision to make?’ said Butch. ‘This is Carmen’s decision!’