‘A bit,’ I said, giving him a hug. ‘But not with you.’

‘Will Jake and Ethan be in trouble?’

‘It’s not fair to go off and play without you so I need to find out why they left you on your own, and where Alistair was.’

He stiffened.

‘Mum! Please don’t! Jake’ll know that I told you even though I promised not to tell.’

‘Then I’ll talk to Jennifer.’

‘Please, Mum.’ His voice cracked and I could tell he was on the verge of tears. ‘I just want to go home. I don’t like it here any more. I don’t like the holiday house. It started off being really cool but now it’s just horrible.’

‘We’re going home on Saturday, Daniel. It’s only a few days. In the meantime, perhaps steer clear of the bigger boys and stay near the villa.’ I looked away. ‘Play with your dad, OK?’

‘What if something else bad happens?’

‘Nothing else bad is going to happen, Daniel. I promise.’

He sat, twisting his hands in his lap. He wouldn’t look at me.

‘Just want to go home,’ he said in a small voice. ‘Back to our normal house, with our normal things.’

I gave him another hug and kissed the top of his head.

‘Soon.’

‘Promise you won’t tell Jake and Ethan?’

‘I promise.’

I handed him a clean T-shirt to wear.

‘Where’s my Harry Potter T-shirt, Mum?’

‘It’s ruined, Daniel, I had to throw it away.’

His face crumpled again. ‘Please can you try to mend it?’

‘It’s all ripped up the side. I’ll get you another one.’

‘Please?’ He looked up at me with his big blue eyes. ‘It’s my favourite.’

‘Well . . .’

‘Please?’

I stood up.

‘All right. If Jennifer has bought a sewing kit I’ll see what I can do.’

I went to the pedal bin in the corner to fish out his T-shirt and was about to let the lid fall again when something caught my eye beneath it. It was one of those things that you recognise instantly – even if you haven’t held one in your hands for a decade or more.

I lifted it out of the bin, turning it over in my hand. Dizziness clouded my vision for a moment. This was . . . No, I didn’t have the headspace to think about this right now, to even consider the implications of it. There was too much going on already, too many plates spinning. Too much worry and suspicion and fear. I slipped it into the back pocket of my jeans.

Just a piece of generic white plastic with a singular purpose.

But what on earth was it doing here?

I needed to ask Lucy as soon as she got back.

Chapter 52

52

I found Jennifer out on the balcony, looking down into the vineyard.

‘Jennifer, can I talk to you?’

She turned and gave me a sympathetic smile.