‘I haven’t decided. Look at it from my point of view. I’ve achieved my aim, which is to find out who killed my son and to exact retribution upon the murderer. My body is gradually collapsing under its own weight, my spine is crumbling. I don’t have long to live, so for me it wouldn’t matter if I’m caught. But what point is there getting justice for my beloved missing son if I sacrifice the future of my remaining son and a daughter? They’re both implicated. If you open your mouth they’ll both be imprisoned long after I’ve died.’

‘I can keep that secret,’ Leticia said. Principles began to crumble.

‘No, I don’t think you can. Gary, undo her blindfold.’ The scarf was removed and Leticia found herself gazing at the largest person she had ever seen. The top half of Poppy Tilling’s head was normal, the hair held back in a short greasy ponytail. But from the dark deep-set eyes downward, a blotchy mottled skin expanded in a series of viscous jelly waterfalls, with a sagging basketball-sized wattle hanging beneath her chin. The nightdress was like a tent, a protruding arm a giant plaited brioche of blubber. Her hand and fingers were incongruously normal, heavily ringed, the nails neatly trimmed and varnished in red.

‘You see, I need to make sure my babies are okay. Gary has Asperger’s and would be bullied in prison. Verity, well. She’s had an eating disorder since she was nine. While I ate myself to a huge size for some kind of comfort she has binged and purged and made herself sick on and off for many years. Bulimia. Families, as we all know, are complicated, and react to trauma in different ways. I gave her most of the money from the Chinese guy. She is flying to South America this evening to start a new life.’

‘I thought she had a job in Nottingham?’

The woman laughed. ‘A cover story.’

‘None of you can escape your problems like that,’ Leticia said. ‘You just take them with you.’

‘Not where I’m going,’ Poppy said.

‘I was brought up a Catholic. So I’d say especially where you’re going.’

‘If you’ve been through what I’ve been through, you can never believe in a God.’

‘If you believe in justice you should release me,’ Leticia said.

‘No.’ Poppy was consumed by an enormous hacking cough that went on and on and shook the room. Finally, she was quiet. ‘Gary, you know what to do.’

Leticia screamed, but Gary’s hand was quickly over her mouth, the gag in place shortly afterwards.

Chapter Thirty-two