‘Mum?’ Finley is standing right in front of me, a bemused look on his face.

‘Yes, love?’

‘Why are you frozen?’

‘Sorry? What do you mean?’

‘You’re standing like a statue.’

‘Oh.’ I laugh. ‘I was deep in thought. Sorry, did you want me?’

‘Yes, there’s someone at the door. I haven’t opened it because you said not to if we didn’t know who it is first.’

‘Good boy, that’s right.’ I ruffle his hair and go to the front door, sliding the chain across before opening it a crack. Surprise steals my breath.

‘Hi, Amber. Could I have a word?’ Carl says.

Has he been watching the house for my return? I’m not ready to confront him. ‘Now’s not a good time, actually, Carl.’

‘Oh. Er … right.’ He shuffles his feet and looks around. He’s acting very shiftily. ‘I wanted to update you, that’s all. From the number of times you’ve called into the office, I’d have assumed you’d be dragging me in,’ he says, his laugh at the end of his sentence going right through me.

‘Feel free to call me later,’ I say, about to close the door on him.

‘Oh …’ His frown lines deepen. ‘Well, hang on a sec.’ He rummages in his coat pocket. ‘You wanted your key?’ He holds it up towards the gap in the door. ‘Sorry it’s later than I said …’

Pointless, now, in fact. But I take it from him, muttering my thanks.

I close the door without another word.

I couldn’t tell if he knew he’d been followed earlier. He may well have been here to give me an update and to return the key, but the timing is too coincidental for my liking. And I don’t want that man inside my house again. When he calls later – if he does – I’ll tell him I want to terminate the contract. I must also get his stupid diary back to him. I’d entirely forgotten about hiding it underneath my mattress. I don’t want him to have any reason to come back here.

I take my mobile and go into the kitchen, closing the door behind me. The boys have gone up to Finley’s room to play a game on the computer, so I should be able to talk without them overhearing. I call Davina to tell her Carl has just paid me a visit. And I tell her about the missing picture from my bedroom.

I don’t know whether to be relieved her thoughts echo mine, or afraid, but the first words she utters are:

‘Carl must’ve taken it. See, I was right to jump to that conclusion – I bet that’s where he’d hidden the camera.’

Chapter Fifty-Four

Amber