She lay on the ground, the grass cool against her cheek. Her shoulder ached and her head throbbed where she had butted Guy, but she felt wonderful.

The tang of the sea air.

The noise of the gulls.

The phone ringing next to her.

‘Hello?’

It was Matt. It was her husband, the love of her life, the father of her children.

It was a voice she had thought she would never hear again.

‘Hello?’ he said. ‘Who is this? Is it Guy?’

‘It’s me,’ she said. ‘Matt, it’s me.’

‘Annabelle? Is it you? Where are you?’

‘Beachy Head,’ she said. ‘I’m at Beachy Head.’

‘Where’s Guy?’

‘He’s gone.’

‘Gone where? Are you OK, Annabelle?’

‘He’s gone forever. And I’m fine.’

‘Where exactly are you? I’ll call the police.’

‘They’re here.’ She paused, and took a deep breath of the salt air. ‘And honestly, I’m fine. Can you believe it, Matt? This is over.’

‘Oh my God,’ he said. ‘Annabelle, I was so worried.’

‘Me too,’ she said. ‘But there’s no need to worry now. I love you.’

‘I love you too.’ He started to cry. ‘Wait,’ he said. ‘I’m going to get the kids.’

He called their names and then, moments later, she heard their shouts.

‘Mum?’ Norman said. ‘Is that you?’

‘It is,’ she said. ‘It’s me.’

Wynne

DI Jane Wynne and DS Michael Dudek sat next to each other on a couch at the police station in Eastbourne. Annabelle Westbrook was opposite them. Her ankle was bandaged, but other than that she was unhurt.

On the outside, at least.

‘Are they here?’ she said.

‘They’re on their way,’ Wynne said. ‘They can’t be far behind us. Maybe another ten minutes. You talked to them, earlier, I heard?’

‘As soon as I could,’ Annabelle said. ‘I wanted to hear their voices. Now I want to see them.’

‘I understand. That’s our priority, too. And the minute they arrive we’ll bring them here.’ Wynne sipped her tea. ‘While we wait, would you be OK to answer a few questions?’

‘Yes,’ Annabelle said. ‘That’s fine.’

‘Thank you,’ DS Dudek said. ‘I think we have a reasonable idea of what happened up until you were on the cliff with Sanderson. We’ll want to go through the details at some point, but that can wait.’

‘Yes,’ Wynne said. ‘That can wait.’

‘OK,’ Annabelle said. ‘Did you find Guy?’

‘We did,’ Wynne replied. ‘PC Chalmers called the coastguard, and they recovered his body.’

‘So he’s dead?’

‘Yes,’ Wynne said. ‘He is. Would you be able to tell us what happened on the cliff top?’

‘I think,’ Annabelle said, ‘that if I just said he fell that would be easier. But I’m sick of all the lies. So I’m going to tell the truth.’

‘We appreciate that,’ Wynne said. ‘Go on.’