‘Well, you mentioned an argument, Oliver. You said it yourself – you’ve lied for a very long time about the … other thing … You’re good at lying. Are you sure you’re telling me everything about Melissa’s disappearance?’ She had to broach the topic, had to know why he’d have lied about Melissa being at the fortieth party now she knew it wasn’t the case.

‘Are you suggesting I had something to do with it?’

‘Did you?’

‘I’m not going to dignify that with an answer.’

‘Says every guilty person ever.’

‘What is wrong with you, Lou? I’ve never laid a finger on Melissa, never would. Yes, we had an argument; I told you that the very first day I came here – I never tried to hide that fact. It was about you, like I said. But then she stormed off, away from me. Possibly away from the party, but no one seems to have witnessed that, so who knows where the hell she went and with who.’

‘No one witnessed it because not a single person saw her, Oliver. Are you sure it’s not you who’s hallucinating?’

‘Very funny. None of the guests knew her, did they, so all I can assume is they didn’t take any notice of her and that’s why they now can’t recall seeing her.’

‘Seems implausible to me.’

‘So does killing a woman and then forgetting you’ve done it.’

Louisa’s pulse jumped. He had a point. She fell silent.

‘Stalemate,’ he said.

Louisa pressed her hand to the mobile phone in her pocket. The recording would have to be deleted. She’d gained nothing apart from now having incriminating evidence against herself on there.

‘What are you going to do now? Go back to York?’

‘No. I thought I’d hang around for a while – I still have the business project to set up. And besides that, I can’t face the thought of travelling back without Melissa. I need to be where she was last seen. She may come back to our rented flat. I would hate it if she returned to an empty place. She’d think I gave up on her.’

‘I suppose. But, Oliver?’

‘Yes?’

‘I don’t want you coming here again. I think it’s best if we cut ties.’

‘Really?’ His voice rose an octave, panic fleeting across his face. ‘But I need you, Lou-Lou. And Brian has been such a rock. Please don’t take everything from me.’

‘I haven’t taken anything from you. Anyway – Tiff can be your rock. That’s a better option for you than me and Brian. You need to let us be. It’s not right – your friendship with my husband, it’s weird.’ Louisa rose, making her way to the front door.

‘But you are taking everything then. You took my heart a long time ago; now you’re taking away my lifelines.’