‘No!’ His eyes search mine, then he looks away. ‘Technically, yes. But not like you’re thinking. I didn’t hurt anyone. I didn’t force myself on someone. I was sixteen. I was going out with a girl in the year below. She was fifteen. Her mum was a religious nut job and when she found out she reported me to the police. And yes, I was cautioned. I didn’t disclose it when I applied to the force and they found out. Of course they bloody found out. They terminated my application. I couldn’t tell you that. You would have left me.’

‘What else have you lied about, Mark?’

‘Nothing. I swear.’

I sit in the gloom beside him, a hundred thoughts running through my head, and force myself to stand up. ‘I should go and see Jake and say goodbye.’

‘You’re going back to your mum’s then?’

‘Yes. I think that’s for the best, don’t you?’

‘Because of Jake?’ he asks softly. ‘Or because of me?’

‘A bit of both.’

He doesn’t say a word as I cross the garage but I can feel his eyes boring into my back. The weight of sadness in the air is more than I can bear.

When I turn back round Mark has his head in his hands.

‘I need to talk to her,’ I say. ‘To Edie Christian. You understand why, don’t you?’

‘Yes.’ He nods. ‘Yes, I do.’

Chapter 52

Are you sure this is a good idea?

Yes, Mark knows. I told him.

Do you believe him?

I unwind the car window and reread Liz’s text. Do I believe that nothing happened between my husband and Edie Christian?

My heart says yes, my head says I need to be sure.

That’s fair enough. I’m here if you need to talk afterwards. You know that, don’t you?

I do. Thanks, Liz. Xx

‘Mrs Wilkinson!’ Edie Christian raises a hand and waves. Her long blonde hair is tied back in a ponytail and she’s wearing a red flowery dress with black leggings and sensible shoes. Her lanyard swings from left to right as she bounces across reception towards me.

‘Miss Christian.’ I shake her outstretched hand and force a smile, aware that the receptionist is watching.

‘I’ve booked a private meeting room,’ she says as she ushers me down a corridor. ‘A lot of the year heads are in the office today and I know you wanted a private chat.’

I know her office well. I felt as though I spent half my life there last year, discussing Billy’s various ‘issues’. I’d mentally prepared myself for our chat to take place there and I’m thrown by her suggestion that we talk in private.