Chapters (78)
- Title Page
- Dedication
- Prologue
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Sixty-Two
- Sixty-Three
- Sixty-Four
- Sixty-Five
- Sixty-Six
- Sixty-Seven
- Sixty-Eight
- Sixty-Nine
- Seventy
- Acknowledgments
- About the Author
- Remarkable Praise for Nicci French
- Also by Nicci French
- About the Publisher
“Stop that,” Jude hissed.
He had been speaking slightly too loudly and she sensed that the young couple at the next table had stopped their conversation and were eavesdropping.
“I just wanted to say that when two people have shared something like that, something intimate, then there’s a connection. There’ll always be a connection.”
“It was a mistake,” Jude said, in a violent whisper. “A terrible, terrible mistake.”
Vin reached his hand across the table. Jude pulled her hand away before he could take it.
“We’re almost done,” she said. “Have you said what you had to say?”
His expression turned more serious and he leaned across the table and spoke in a quieter tone.
“You can ask me anything you want,” he said. “I promise I’ll tell you the truth. Anything.”
Jude stared across at him: at his broad, mirthful face.
“One thing. Do you feel bad?”
Vin looked genuinely surprised but more amused than angry.
“Is that it? That’s a bit of a wasted opportunity. No, of course I don’t.” He leaned forward once more. “Now I get to ask you one question.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I’ll ask it anyway. You can answer it if you like or not.” He paused, as if thinking of how to phrase it. “What was the plan?” he asked finally.
“What do you mean? What plan?”
“It’s the only thing I keep wondering about. I know why Liam did what he did. Danny was going to destroy him. She was going to take Alfie and fight for sole custody. He’d lose it all. Obviously he made the mistake of telling Dermot about it. Nobody’s perfect. But what was your plan? Or was it your idea in the first place? What was in it for you?”
Jude thought of not answering. She looked at him as he waited, so sure of himself, so blithe.
“There was no plan,” she said eventually. “I didn’t know what he was going to do.”
Vin nodded his head slowly.
“That’s right, it couldn’t have been your idea. The original idea was that Dermot would be his alibi. That makes sense. Your brother. That’s someone you can trust. But Dermot said no and went and told Danny about it.”
Jude felt a jolt of understanding. Yes, that was it. That was why Liam had told Dermot. His brother was the one person he thought he could turn to. Vin continued speaking as if he was thinking aloud.