‘And that’s what you think my daughter’s safety is worth?’

She dropped her hands. ‘No! Of course I don’t think that.’ That was not what she meant at all, but why hadn’t it occurred to her that this would be his reaction? She back-pedalled quickly. ‘She isn’t in any danger. I could be wrong about Nick. That’s only my theory. Douglas, don’t you see—’

But he’s already out of the bed and pulling on his trousers. He does up his shirt before looking at her again. ‘You’ve done a lot of damage, haven’t you, Anna? You’re going to have to put this right.’

GRACE

Monday, 7 May 2018

‘AM I A SUSPECT?’ I ASK DETECTIVE INSPECTOR MARSH.

I’ve been brought to the police station to help with their inquiries. Like Tim, I was taken in a police car. I thank God Lottie didn’t see it. I had to tell Cassie, though, in case I’m not home in time to pick her up. If necessary, she’ll look after Toffee for me as well. The energy I had earlier, that little reserve, has entirely gone.

‘Why would you think that, if Nick killed himself?’

I support my head with the palm of my hand. A stone-faced WPC called Venetia Grant is sitting next to the detective. Her cool blue eyes don’t leave my face. It’s disconcerting. Occasionally I stare back, but she doesn’t blink.

‘But I don’t think he did,’ I say. ‘I don’t think he’s dead.’

‘It seems odd that Nick never told you about that summer. If you were so important to him, surely he would have confided in you.’

I shrug.

‘Why do you think he didn’t tell you?’

‘I don’t know.’

He smiles. ‘But you can guess, surely? We don’t tell the people we love everything. We gloss over the stuff we’re ashamed of, the guilty secrets, or we miss out certain events because we’re scared of getting found out.’

I clasp my hands together and press my knuckles against my teeth. My skin feels dry.

‘I don’t know,’ I repeat. ‘I have a lot of questions. I wish he was here to answer them.’

‘So do I.’ Marsh picks up his mug, peers into it and puts it down, disappointed. He taps his pen against his palm and flicks through the brown manila folder to a page with handwritten notes.

‘Did you suspect Nick was having an affair with Anna Foreman?’ Grant says. It’s the first time she’s spoken.

I don’t miss a beat. ‘No, I didn’t.’

‘Did you add the pair of them to the app because you thought something was going on?’

I shake my head. ‘No. And it was Cassie who added Anna, not me. I only added Nick.’

‘But you were watching Nick’s and Anna’s progress that evening? Why was that?’