‘It’s on a lesser-known file transfer site, set to private view only,’ Sean said, ‘which basically means you need a password to access it – a password that only me and Jennifer have. She sent me the link to the video and told me that if it ever comes out that Jake was involved, it would take her thirty seconds to lift the restriction and upload it to YouTube, put the film out there for the whole world to see. To justify why he did it.’

‘She’s been holding that over you all this time?’

‘Yes.’

I remembered the messages I’d seen on his phone.

Can’t stop thinking about what you said

I meant every word

‘Lucy didn’t realise he was filming, did she?’

‘No.’

‘And does she know Jake was the one who knocked Alex off his bike?’

He shook his head.

‘She doesn’t even know about the video of her asking him to do it. Only Jennifer, him and me know that footage exists.’

‘And me.’

‘And you. So now you know, what do we do? What about Jennifer?’ He checked his watch. ‘The police will be here soon.’

I looked at my husband, my brave, kind, protective husband, my heart overflowing.

‘You know what we have to do, Sean. You’ve known all along.’

After a long moment, he stood up.

‘Yes.’ He nodded. ‘I do.’

One last thing niggled at me.

‘Why did you have the condoms, Sean? I found them in your suitcase.’

He looked confused.

‘I didn’t put any condoms in there. I swear.’

‘Who used that case before you?’

Even before the question had left my mouth, I knew the answer.

‘Lucy,’ I said. ‘She took it on the German trip.’

‘Yeah,’ he said slowly. ‘Summer term.’

He looked around. ‘Where are the kids, anyway?’

‘Games room?’

‘I’ll go and have a look.’

He headed for the basement room and I picked up my phone, scrolling to the Find iPhone app.

The app loaded, displaying my children’s mobile phones as the two devices it could locate.

I selected Lucy’s phone and waited for the location finder to work its magic.

After a few seconds, the map showed Lucy’s location on the west side of the property, near the gorge. There was no good reason for her to be down there in the middle of a thunderstorm. I felt a sudden plunge of panic at the thought of her standing at the edge of the cliff, full of self-loathing over how she’d been treated, feeling used and dirty and worthless, choked with remorse over what she’d set in motion. I sent her a quick text and stood up, preparing to head out into the rain.

Sean came back into the room, his face lined with worry.

‘The kids aren’t in their rooms, either of them.’

I held my mobile up, showing him the icon for Lucy’s phone on the map.