‘We can drag him? It’ll be easier to do as it’s downhill all the way. I know that’ll leave a trail, but no one will query marks like that, will they?’

‘No, possibly not. These are well-worn paths – but we’d have to be careful because of the blood. This is the dog-walkers’ paradise – a sniff of blood might get them all going, draw unwanted attention to this part of the common. We’re going to have to clean up as best we can.’

‘Okay. I’ll go and see what’s in the boot, and bring whatever I can back here.’

‘Don’t leave me here with him!’ Louisa didn’t want to be with a dead body, but more than that she didn’t trust Melissa not to do another disappearing act, leaving her to clean up the mess, or take the fall for what she’d done. That would be ironic – Oliver and Melissa each carrying out a murder and then pinning it on her.

‘You should stay here, just in case anyone comes.’

‘And what in God’s name am I meant to do if someone does!’

‘You can somehow make sure they go the other way, tell them there’s a … tree fallen … or something, that the path’s blocked and they can’t get through.’

‘And I’m doing what, exactly, here at bloody midnight? I’ve no dog, I’m not a reckless teenager up to no good – it will look really suspicious. And what if I know them?’

‘The more we stand here debating it, the more likely someone will come. Let’s get on with it, shall we?’

Time slowed dramatically. Louisa felt as though she’d been waiting for an hour by the time she heard rustling. Please be Melissa.

‘It was useless, I’m sorry. I’ve just got this rank towel.’ Melissa’s breathing was laboured as she stopped in front of Louisa. She stared at the item in her hand with a sense of defeat.

‘Well, that’s great, Melissa. That’s not going to wrap around him, is it?’ Louisa banged her palms against her temples.

Melissa sighed, dropping the towel at her feet. All Louisa could think about was the wealth of fibres, DNA, and footprints they were going to be leaving at the scene. They may as well give themselves up now. Tell the police that Oliver had drawn them to the common then attacked them. That in self-defence, Melissa had stabbed him. That was a better plan than trying to hide his body and hope for the best for ever more that it wasn’t found.

Had that been how Oliver had felt for all those years? Louisa glanced at his motionless body. Melissa had done him a favour, really. She’d released him from his guilt.

Now that guilt was hers for the rest of her life.