Immediately transported back to the awful day that had obliterated any feelings she might still have had for Robert, Diana closed her eyes, a familiar nausea sweeping through her as she relived the nightmare: Karla on her knees, hysterical, shaking uncontrollably. Diana’s gaze travelling past her to Sarah, lying so still and cold, she’d instantly known her soul had departed this world. Sweeping Karla up – a mother instinctively protecting her young – she’d squeezed her tight and tried to console her. She’d barely heard her choked whisper: ‘He killed her. He killed her.’

Karla had never repeated it. To this day, Diana had never been able to persuade her to.

Attempting to vanquish the memory, she checked her phone again, hoping to see a text or missed call from her. There was nothing, which left her no choice but to ring Jason. Diana still hadn’t managed to establish exactly what had gone on when he’d met with Robert, and therefore had no idea what reception she might get. If she didn’t get answers from him regarding Karla’s whereabouts and well-being, she would have to drive over to the house. She couldn’t rest until she knew she was safe.

‘Jason’s phone,’ someone answered, eventually. A female. A young female.

Diana checked her watch, noting that it was now well past five thirty, and her heart dropped. Surely he wasn’t actually meeting up with the women Karla had claimed he was chatting to on dating sites? Diana had been sure that, no matter what was going on between him and Karla, he would never be cruel enough to do something like that. ‘Sorry, who is this?’ she asked tersely.

‘Rachel,’ the girl supplied. ‘I work with Jason. He’s in a meeting just now with a colleague. Can I get him to call you back?’

He was in his office. She’d imagined he wouldn’t be, since he’d been forced to put the wheels in motion to sell the business, all thanks to her despicable husband. Diana felt a huge surge of relief. She hadn’t wanted to be so wrong about him.

‘Could you interrupt him for me?’ she asked the young woman. ‘It’s his mother-in-law here. I wouldn’t ask, but it is urgent.’

A minute later, Jason came on. ‘Diana?’ he said, his tone wary. ‘Rachel said it was urgent.’

‘I’ve been trying to get hold of Karla. She’s not returning my calls and I’m worried to death,’ Diana explained quickly. ‘Jason, where are the children?’

‘Here, with me,’ Jason said, and Diana’s heart settled clunkily back into its moorings. ‘Karla’s… got some kind of a bug,’ he went on. ‘Look, don’t panic, Diana. I spoke to her not long ago about the kids. She’s probably put her phone on silent since then. I’ll finish up here and go straight home.’