‘They threatened to hurt you and Lottie. I realized that Douglas and Anna had given me an opportunity. For as long as Angus and his associates thought I was dead, you and Lottie would be safe. So I called Scotland Yard and told them everything. They moved me to a safe house, and that’s where I’ve been for the last two months. I was prepared to play dead for as long as it took. I am so sorry to have put you through it. I wanted to contact you so badly, but I couldn’t. Not until now. Then they told me they were planning a dawn raid on Angus’s house, and once I heard that it had been successful, I came straight away. I couldn’t wait another hour.’

‘Are you sure we’re safe now?’ I asked.

‘Grace, they’ve been named and they’re in custody. Angus knows there’s nothing more I can tell the police. He’s not a killer, he’s just another greedy egotist who thought he was too big to go down.’

‘What about Anna?’

His face clouded. ‘Anna was trying to protect Douglas from me. I can’t blame her for that. I was choking the life out of him. It wasn’t self-defence at that point, it was rage. I honestly believe I would have killed him.’

I picked at a loose thread in my jeans. ‘Was it because of what he told you about me?’

‘No. Grace, I know you. You’re not that woman any more.’ His eyes darkened. ‘Anna accused me of molesting Izzy and Douglas believed her. He said he couldn’t trust me with … That I would lose …’ He squeezed the bridge of his nose. ‘Sorry.’

‘It’s all right. I understand. You don’t have to say anything else.’

‘Izzy’s death wasn’t entirely Anna’s fault; I played my part too. I want you to know what really happened.’

He steepled his fingers and pressed them to his forehead.

‘I’m listening.’