‘I mean, I’d have preferred you didn’t broadcast the painful details of my personal life to a large audience. And you could have told us you had signal and saved us a few hours of misery.’

Jack looked terrified.

She continued, ‘But to be honest, I can’t be arsed to have a fight with anyone else today.’ She sighed. ‘So. There you have it. My forgiveness.’

Jack still looked rather anguished. ‘I saw Ben leave when I was doing my … interview.’ He said the last part virtually in a whisper.

‘Yeah, he’s left,’ Ellen said, flatly. ‘We’ll have to, as well, I think. Alexa is going to email Elias and tell him what happened – sort of – and then I think we’ll all have to stay somewhere else.’

Noticing Jack’s stricken face, she added, ‘Just for a bit. Provided he doesn’t evict us, I’m sure we can all move back in.’ She wasn’t actually sure, but it seemed easier to pretend.

‘I guess I’ll go call Maisie,’ he said, resignedly. ‘I can probably go stay with her for a bit.’

‘Cool,’ Ellen said, wearily.

There was a pained silence; she could tell Jack was trying to conjure the words to say something reassuring. She noticed his toes were curling again.

‘Um, Ellen, I do think – well.’ He looked at her properly, emboldened. ‘I believe your story. About Ben. I think it was him. The guy who –’

‘Thanks, Jack,’ she interrupted. She wanted him to stop, though she wasn’t sure why. She sighed. ‘It doesn’t really matter. But thanks.’

Jack nodded. He stood awkwardly for another minute, before Ellen pointed limply towards her bedroom door and Jack took her clumsy cue to leave.

Once she could hear his footsteps on the stairs to the first floor, Ellen jabbed at her phone again.

Alexa had already sent Elias an email, cc’ing them all in.

From: [email protected]

To: elias@southeast_homes.com

CC: [email protected]; [email protected]

Subject: 49 Rokeby Close

Dear Elias,

I hope you are well.

I’m sorry to disturb you on a Saturday with unfortunate news: there has been a flood at 49 Rokeby Close. I’m afraid the kitchen is submerged. We were all out when it happened.

We have got rid of the worst of the water, but the pipe and the hall carpet will need professional attention. Please contact me at your earliest convenience to arrange a time for all of this to happen.

In the meantime, we have all made arrangements to stay elsewhere.

My sincerest apologies,

Alexa

Ellen was glad Alexa hadn’t mentioned the mutilated attic door too. Still, she felt sick at the thought of Elias reading it. She buried her head in the duvet to block the world out.

26

BBC London Evening News bulletin