It is this fragment of knowledge that saves his life the next day, in a thunderstorm, when I watch him disappear before my eyes at the very same spot. When Jennifer releases her grip and I watch him dropping into the gorge, turning at the last second as he falls, but he’s not turning to see me. He’s turning to grab onto that tree root, onto life. His scared eyes never leave mine as the two French policemen haul him back to safety.

Not bad for a nerd, Mummy, he’d said through his tears.

No, I’d said through mine, not bad at all.

Beside me, Daniel studies the order of service, his little hand tight in mine. The bandages are gone now. I squeeze it gently and he squeezes back, once, twice. Our secret code.

Chris, the new partner Izzy had been so excited about, sits next to him.

Or Christine, to use her full name.

Of course I had assumed in France that her new love was a man, but Izzy had never actually said that. I knew now why she had been cagey, not revealing too many details too soon – she had wanted to tell us at her own pace, in her own way. She had been so looking forward to starting that next chapter in her life, so excited to make the most of her second chance.

But that story will never be told. Not now.

The priest stood up.

‘Dearly beloved, we meet here today to honour and pay tribute to the life of Isobel Margaret O’Rourke. Or, as most of you knew her, Izzy. Loving daughter, devoted sister, doting auntie, a true and loyal friend.’

My throat tightened and I waited for the tears to start again. But this time my eyes stayed dry.

A true and loyal friend.

Chapter 82

82

An email arrived the day after the funeral, from an unrecognised address.

The subject line said simply: Reminder.

There was no text, just a link to the video. I knew what it was and who had sent it as soon as I saw the link, but I clicked on it anyway. Watched the video again, even though I knew it line for line, word for word. Every second seared into my brain.

‘You want him to have an accident?’

Lucy’s voice in response.

‘Yeah. Yeah I do.’

It was still secret, still password-protected and private, only four of us now who even knew it existed. Me, Sean, Jennifer and – of course – Jake.

I read the subject line again.

Reminder.

A reminder of my promise, my oath to Jennifer to keep our secret. I had given her my word. And Jennifer knew she could trust me because of who I was, because she knew what I was like: straight as a die. Make a deal and stick to it.