‘Would you at least let the boys stay here this weekend? We’ll call it a sleepover and they’ll be delighted.’

‘Yeah, sure – that’d be great actually. I was put-out that Nick wasn’t worried about us being in the house alone, dismissing any hint of risk – I’m glad someone worries about us.’ I smile and give Jo a hug. I have to hold back tears. ‘Finley will be harder to coax, though – he’s convinced someone’s in the house and he’s desperate to play detective, like his dad, to catch them in the act. He’ll want to be man of the house and stay with me.’

‘I’ll use my best powers of persuasion – which may or may not involve Star Wars and popcorn. You could say you’re going to spend the weekend with Richard so he doesn’t think he’s leaving you in the house alone? You can bring them over later.’

I nod. ‘Yeah, that’s actually a good idea.’

‘But for what it’s worth, I don’t think you should be there alone, either.’

‘It’s fine, honestly. I’m not going to be on my own.’

Jo shoots me a confusing look.

‘I’m going to ask Davina to stay with me.’ It’s a spur-of-the-moment decision, but I think it’s a good one.

‘Why on earth would you want her to sleep in your house?’

‘Eliminating her from my enquiries? If something happens while she’s there, maybe she’s not the one behind it.’

‘Fair point – if you can keep a close eye on her the whole time, of course. Good luck with that.’

I leave to go home, my mind spinning with what Jo has just told me. Carl Anderson is married to the stepdaughter of one of the main men behind the Apple Grove development. I can’t get over it – I’m certain it’s not a coincidence.

I’m determined to get to the bottom of all of this.

The weekend ahead will need to be put to good use … because I’m running out of spare time.

Chapter Seventy-Four

How much of a person do you ever really know – a third, a quarter? How much of themselves do they keep private; concealed? Our innermost thoughts and desires, certain goals, maybe certain traits and behaviours, we try to keep under wraps. Because they don’t conform to the norms, or because they are telling; giving away secrets of our deepest fears. All sorts of reasons.

The main reason I keep things hidden is to protect others.

Or, that’s what I told myself.

Others might say I hide those things to protect myself.

They’re intrinsically linked; intertwined – the need to protect with the need to preserve, I think. They go hand in hand.

But now, I need to make a decision. Come down on one side or the other.

I can’t do both.

Chapter Seventy-Five

Amber