‘It’s not your fault. I know how manipulative Grace can be.’

‘Goodbye, Douglas.’ I touch the screen and end the call.

‘Why do you let him get away with that?’ Anna asks.

‘It’s the way he is. He seems to still think he owns me, even though we haven’t been together for years. He’s never really accepted that I can love someone else after him. Big ego.’

‘Has he had other girlfriends since you split up?’

‘Yes, several, but they never seem to stick. He gets bored and starts finding fault and then he dumps them. Douglas isn’t capable of truly loving a woman. There are always conditions. It’s exhausting.’

‘Maybe he hasn’t found the right person.’

I glance at her and smile. ‘That’s the kind way of looking at it.’

GRACE

Monday, 30 April 2018

MONDAY. ANOTHER WEEK TO GET THROUGH. MORE questions to ask, more reality to accept. Anna, I think, as I get dressed. Anna, Anna, Anna. If Devon told me anything, it’s that she’s damaged. But is Nick’s disappearance her fault, or merely collateral damage from that summer? And where does Tim feature?

Lottie and I spent a lot of time with Cassie and Evan over the weekend, urged by our friends to treat their home as a sanctuary. The Morgans live in a modest semi-detached 1930s house on a busy road on the less expensive side of the Common. It’s light and bright and has an enormous garden and I actually think they have more fun over here, where there’s less pressure to conform than in my exclusive enclave. We arrived at twelve o’clock on Saturday for lunch and didn’t leave until eight o’clock that evening, and then we went to Richmond Park with them on Sunday. I didn’t much like leaving Tim and Cora to their own devices, but I reasoned that if they wanted to pry, they’d had ample opportunity.

After spending Friday with Anna, particularly those eight hours in the car with her, it was such a relief to be amongst people that I trust, and who know me. Lottie was happy too, because she had Hannah all to herself. When the girls were out of the room the only topic of conversation was Nick. I didn’t mind; it was good to have friends to chew it over with. When I told them about Anna’s connection Evan’s eyebrows shot up.

‘God, that is weird, isn’t it? I mean, there is no way the two things aren’t related. I can’t believe the police aren’t taking it more seriously.’

‘It still doesn’t explain what happened.’

‘Well, obviously, she scared him. For her to come back after so many years, accusing him of doing I don’t know what to her sister …’

‘He didn’t do anything. You know he didn’t.’