‘But …’ The same images repeat themselves in my head: Mark tenderly checking me over after my first blackout, holding hands during DS Forbes’s visit, ringing to wish me a drunken goodnight, kissing in the kitchen. ‘Things have been different between us recently. We’ve felt closer. We’ve been talking.’

‘Well, that’s something.’ She plonks a glass of rosé in front of me and sits down.

‘What would you do?’ I ask. ‘If you were me?

‘She takes a sip of her wine. ‘But I’m not you, am I? I could tell you that there’s no way you can trust him now he’s lied to you about something this big and that you’ll be happier without him but that’s a decision you need to make.’

‘Are you happier without Lloyd?’

‘I’ve got Tinder, haven’t I? And a nine-inch dildo?’ Her smile slips as she looks up from her glass. ‘I’m fine. I wouldn’t say I’m happy but it’s early days. I miss being in love, I miss curling up with someone on the sofa and I miss having someone to talk to. But maybe it was for the best that Lloyd left. We didn’t love each other any more.’

She sighs. ‘What I’m saying is that it’s better to be on your own than with someone who doesn’t love you. I’m not the right person to ask for advice, Claire. The way I feel about men at the moment I want to tell you to fuck Mark off. But if you still love him and he loves you, and you can put what happened behind you, then maybe it’s not too late for you two to put things right.’

‘Maybe.’

‘Don’t make any big decisions yet. Give yourself some time to—’

She’s interrupted by the sound of my mobile ringing.

‘Sorry.’ I fish it out of my bag. An unknown number flashes on the screen. ‘Hello?’

‘Hello, Mrs Wilkinson. It’s DS Forbes. I was wondering if there’s any way I can get together with you and Mark at some point today? There’s been a development.’

Chapter 54

We sit as we did the last time he visited: DS Forbes in the armchair and Mark and I on the sofa. We’re holding hands, our damp palms pressed together, fingers entwined. Mark launched himself at me the moment I walked through the back door. We clung to each other. When I pulled away from him he had tears in his eyes.

‘It’s bad news, isn’t it?’ I whispered.

Mark shook his head. ‘I don’t know.’

‘DS Forbes said there’d been a development. That word scares me.’

‘Me too.’

‘Oh God, Mark. I don’t think I can do this.’