‘Don’t worry, I’m not going to hurt you,’ Melissa said, as if sensing Louisa’s fear. ‘I’ve had time to think, and I can see that he took your life too, in a way. He didn’t know you couldn’t remember that night, and he left you here to face it all on your own while he went looking for redemption through his victim’s family. How warped is that? He could’ve saved Helen, Louisa. But he chose to let you take the blame for ending her life instead. What you did is unforgivable, but it was an accident. You were young and you turned to someone you loved and trusted to help you. He let you down too.’

‘What are we going to do now?’

‘There’s not a shred of evidence that will link Oliver with Helen’s disappearance, and without a body … well, there’s very little we can do. And trust me, Oliver is never going to say where she is; I tried and failed. I’ve even considered the possibility he doesn’t remember precisely where he disposed of her. We have nothing that can damage Oliver. But you, Louisa – you have evidence that can damage me. The footage on that drone doesn’t prove anything other than I was at the scene the day Tiff died – and don’t forget you’d been there too – but as I’m the one faking my own disappearance, questions will be raised. Links made. I can’t afford that to happen.’

‘He tried to kill you. Isn’t that evidence enough?’

‘He’ll say it was an argument that got out of hand, one spawned by my jealousy of finding out he’d come back here for you.’

‘But he didn’t come back for me, he came back to offload his bloody guilt!’

‘It’s his word against ours.’

‘He could still be charged with actual bodily harm—’

‘It’s not enough, Louisa. Not nearly enough. He has to be punished for what he’s done. To Helen, to me. And to you.’

‘Don’t you think your disappearance is punishment enough? The police feel he’s behind it, so do a lot of people. He’s lost you and he’s under suspicion.’

‘Knowing what you do now, do you think that’s enough?’

‘No. No, it isn’t.’ Something was still niggling her about Melissa’s story, though. ‘Why were you bothering with Tiff, after all the years that had passed?’