I waited another beat. Until my breathing was normal. I was normal. And this was going to be the performance of my life.

Frederick couldn’t know I was scared. He couldn’t know I suspected him.

My heart was still racing. I checked my phone. It was still connected to Jake. I slipped it into my pocket and rang the doorbell.

Frederick opened the door.

‘You found us.’

‘I did indeed. Thanks for picking her up. I didn’t realise I was going to be late.’ Where was Gigi? The house sounded silent. ‘Yvonne is not someone you want to be on the bad side of. I had to bloody volunteer to host a coffee morning. So could I just grab Gigi now? Her grandmother is coming over so we need to get back.’

‘I can’t let you do that,’ he deadpanned.

‘Right. And why’s that?’

He threw his arms open. ‘Because they’re having a wonderful little tea party; we can’t possibly make them stop. Come in and see.’

I tapped my watch. ‘I’d love to but really, we should be going. Got a lot to do before Christie’s this afternoon. If you just—’

Frederick had already disappeared back into the house.

‘Come along!’ he shouted as he walked down the hallway.

I walked into the kitchen. Gigi, Florence and Frederick were all seated around a small child’s table.

‘Mama!’ Gigi shouted brightly. She grinned at me. ‘Look, we’re doing tea. You have some?’

I took in her round little face. Lopsided hairclip fixed to messy hair. My eyes. Her father’s nose. I loved her more than anything. I was fighting every impulse I had to pull her into my arms and run.

Frederick put an arm round her. ‘Gigi, shall we ask Mummy to take a seat?’ The two of them looked up at me, smiling. Florence had her head down. She was making small lines on a piece of paper in front of her. On her right arm I could see a bandage poking out the bottom of her long-sleeved orange top.

‘Sorry, Gigi, we—’

‘YES! Come sit, Mama. Come!’ She patted the little chair next to her and I did as she asked. Frederick and I were now sitting opposite each other. Gigi poured me imaginary tea. I picked up the teacup.

‘How was the office?’ asked Frederick. He locked eyes with me.

‘We’ve been on Ling Ling, the PA, all day. We have evidence she met with Peppa yesterday, meaning she must be her inside link. We still haven’t been able to ID the woman Peppa met with in the playground – she could be the Coyote.’

‘You all ready for the auction this afternoon?’