‘Some people think I look like him. Back in his Lawrence days. Only younger, obviously.’

She sat back and examined him carefully for a long time before shaking her head. ‘I don’t see it,’ she said. ‘He was an incredibly good-looking man.’

Well, that settles it, thought Achilles. You, Missy, are in for a rude awakening.

Achilles Cleverley

Secrets make it even more exciting. Until Thursday xoxoxo

‘Right, you,’ said Beverley, clearing the rest of the lunch detritus away. ‘Go away and do whatever it is you do when you’re on your own, but please don’t let it involve ropes. It took for ever to get that door fixed last time. And we have to get on with this bloody novel.’ She paused for a moment, glancing at the clock. ‘Hold on,’ she said, turning to her son. ‘It’s Tuesday. Why aren’t you in school?’

Achilles smiled. At moments like this, he truly loved his mother. ‘It’s taken you until one thirty to think of that?’ he asked.

‘Just answer the question.’

‘Free morning,’ he lied. ‘Mr Rice told us all to go home and study.’

Beverley pulled a face. ‘Awful man,’ she said.

‘The worst,’ agreed Achilles, standing up now and kissing her three times on the cheeks, European-style, despite the fact that she was a staunch Brexiteer. ‘And as for you,’ he added to the ghost as he made his way out of the room, ‘let’s talk later, yes?’

‘Why?’ asked the ghost, frowning, as if he’d just invited her to take a hot-air balloon trip over Sri Lanka with him. ‘What have we got to talk about?’

On the way to his room he checked his phone, but no more messages had arrived from the mark. He’d probably stay quiet until Thursday morning. He flicked into Twitter and was surprised to see his name, or his surname, trending, and scrolled down the page, his mouth opening wider with everything he read. Switching back to his phone, he opened his contacts list and pressed the number for his sister.

‘What?’ said Elizabeth when she answered.

‘Something’s happened,’ he said. ‘Dad’s in trouble.’

After he had explained the situation, he hung up and called Nelson.

‘Achilles?’ asked his brother. ‘Is everything okay?’

‘Have you been online?’

‘No. Why? What’s happened?’

‘Get on to Twitter right now. Dad’s fucked up. Big time.’

PART 3

Part 3

16 July 2010

It’s Elizabeth who tells George and Beverley the truth about why Nelson doesn’t want to go to school any more. Last week, he complained about a sore stomach and was kept off; this week, he claims to have an ear infection. Elizabeth has known the truth for months but waited until now to talk to her parents, not wanting to betray her brother’s confidences.