Anna is standing in front of the wall of windows, the sun creating a halo around her. Her face is a picture of guilt.

He raises his eyebrows. ‘Sorry. If I’d known you had company …’

‘You could have rung, Douglas,’ I point out. ‘Anna dropped in to say goodbye. We’ve been catching up.’

‘How cosy.’

‘We haven’t spoken for ages, have we, Anna? So it was a lovely surprise.’

‘What have you been talking about?’ Douglas addresses both of us, his smile fixed.

‘Oh, you know,’ I say. ‘The usual. Kids, schools and house prices.’

I turn my gaze to Anna, silently pleading with her to back me up. She swallows and forces a smile. ‘I’ve let my house,’ she says. ‘It’s time for a change.’

There’s a long silence. Douglas’s jaw works. ‘You always were a bad liar, Grace. And what about you, Anna?’ He walks over to her and cups her face in his hands. ‘What’s going on?’

I remember he used to do that to me if I was being stubborn. I can still feel the warmth of his palms, the pressure of his fingertips against my cheekbones, his thumbs firm against the corners of my mouth. I would try not to blink first but I always did, just as I know Anna will blink first now. I can feel the horror starting in my gut and spreading.

‘You don’t have to tell him anything.’

‘Mind your own business, Grace,’ Douglas says.

‘I …’ Anna falters.

‘Go on.’

‘I promise I didn’t tell her. She guessed. She knows we’re together.’

‘What exactly have you said?’

Anna dissolves and he lets her go with a sigh of scorn. She can’t speak and tears are rolling down her cheeks.

‘For God’s sake,’ I say. ‘It’s over, Douglas. I know what part you played in Nick’s death. I will never, ever forgive you for what you’ve done, and I’ll make sure you never see Lottie again.’

Before I can take evasive action, Douglas pushes me against the countertop and clamps his hand over my mouth. Anna edges slowly towards the table where I’ve left the phone, stretching out her hand until her fingers touch it. Toffee snarls.

‘Anna,’ Douglas says. His voice is steady. ‘If you call the police then it’s over. Do you understand? You have to make a choice now, and it’s important you make the right one. If you follow my instructions, then we can be together. Remember; this is your mess. I’ve only tried to help you.’

‘I don’t know,’ Anna says. ‘I’m not sure I can do this any more.’

‘Do you love me?’

My eyes widen as she nods, tears falling down her cheeks.

‘Then work with me. There’s no alternative, OK? She knows too much.’