Jasmine stared at Tim, the stranger who lived in their house. Had he completely lost his mind? She kept looking back at the picture of the girl. Something about the girl’s face stirred some recognition in her, but she couldn’t quite place it. Was this Tim’s manipulating his way out of trouble after she had found his sick and twisted secret? That didn’t explain the necklace though.

‘Tell me who you really are. Don’t lie to me this time. No more lies.’ She could hear her voice shaking as she spoke.

‘OK. I promise.’

Jasmine folded her arms, partly for security but also so that he would see that she meant business. He had to know she was no longer vulnerable to his charm. She just wanted to know the truth. At least she thought she did.

‘Is Tim even your real name?’

‘It is. My name is Tim Fulton. I am a soldier in the British army, currently on medical leave. I came here looking for the person who killed my fiancée. Every lead, every avenue led me to your father.’

‘You’re lying,’ she spat.

‘We can ask him, if you want? Show him those photos and see what he does.’

She couldn’t tell if she believed him or not; she had believed him before and he had been lying.

Except he seemed so convinced of what he was saying.

‘Is that why you’re here? What were you planning on doing to him?’

‘I want him to admit it. She didn’t deserve what he did to her.’

Jasmine shook her head. She couldn’t accept what he was saying.

‘My dad didn’t do it. There’s no way. He’s lovely, ask anyone. He’s not capable of those hideous things. Whoever did that to those girls was a monster and my father is the furthest thing from a monster on this planet.’

‘Are you telling me there’s nothing you find strange about him? Even just these past few weeks here I can see that he’s off. There’s something missing.’

‘No. You’re seeing what you want to see. He’s not what you’re saying.’

Tim ignored her. ‘I wasn’t sure at first, but now I know he did it. I know he killed Rosa.’

Jasmine knew she had to keep him talking ’til she could get away from him and warn her father. ‘Tell me about her, where is this supposed to have happened?’ Her head was spinning. Everything he was saying was a lie, but she could tell he was utterly convinced of it. He must be insane, there was no other explanation for it. He was mistaken.