‘Well, obviously, we can’t jump to conclusions, but from what we’ve been able to piece together about Nick’s state of mind, it’s looking like he took his own life. I think you were right, Grace. I think that being approached by both Alex Wells and Anna Foreman after so many years brought all the guilt back. We’re looking at Izzy Wells’ case in the light of this.’

‘My son,’ Cora says, drawing herself up to her full height, ‘had nothing whatsoever to do with that child’s unfortunate death.’

‘Hang on,’ Tim says, leaning forward. ‘Who is Anna Foreman?’

I shrug. It’s out of my hands now. ‘Anna Foreman is Taisie Wells,’ I say. ‘She lives round the corner and her son is in the same class at Cedar Heights as Lottie. She had a conversation with Nick shortly before he disappeared.’

Tim and Cora are both staring at me, like I’ve just walked off my spaceship.

‘Why haven’t you shared this with us?’ Cora asks.

‘She asked me not to.’

‘So your loyalties are with her, rather than Nick’s family? That’s fantastic.’

‘Cora,’ Tim admonishes her. ‘Let’s not worry about Taisie now. Let’s worry about Nick.’ He turns to Marsh. ‘Surely if he drowned his body would have been found? It didn’t take long to find Izzy.’

‘I don’t have an answer to that, I’m afraid. With any luck the divers will find him – bodies can get stuck in logjams.’

I flinch.

‘How can you be so sure they’re Nick’s things?’ Tim asks. ‘They could belong to anybody.’

‘That’s true, of course, and I’ll need Grace to have a look, but we found his wallet too.’

‘Perhaps he’s faked his death,’ Cora suggests, looking pointedly at me.

‘Why would he do that?’ Marsh asks. ‘Is he involved in anything illegal?’

‘No.’ I glare at Cora. ‘Nick is not a coward. Whatever it was, he would have faced it.’

Marsh glances from me to Cora with interest, before speaking. ‘The other reason we know they belong to Nick is because he left a note tucked into his wallet. It’s addressed to you, Grace.’ He hands me a pair of latex gloves. ‘Sorry, but it’s evidence.’

I lift my eyes to his face as I pull them on. ‘Have you read it?’

‘Yes.’

I take it from him and walk away from Tim and Cora.

Darling Grace, I’ve wanted to talk to you about this for a long time, but haven’t been able to pluck up the courage. I love you so much and don’t want you to think less of me. I shouldn’t have involved you in my life, not until I’d told you everything.

The next line wavers, and my heart breaks for him. What he must have been feeling when he wrote this.