But that neurotic thought has made me realise there’s even more reason to get Davina to stay. Better safe than sorry. I flit around the lounge and kitchen, hastily tidying – even though there’s no need – before heading to the front door. If someone is watching, I don’t want them thinking I’m in a panic about anything.

The fact I’m even thinking this way almost makes me laugh. Hysteria has taken over. If I’m way off the mark, though, that’s good. I’d rather be classed as paranoid and take precautionary action, than write off the many alarm bells and regret it later.

I amble towards Davina’s house; my tummy flip-flops as I approach her door and knock. I take a step back while I await an answer, my head down as I silently repeat the phrases:

I no longer know who I can trust.

I need to play this very carefully.

I raise my eyes again as I hear the door swing open, but my words of greeting die on my lips.

Davina isn’t the person standing in front of me.

Chapter Seventy-Six

Barb

There are certain things I think I should nip in the bud. I might not have control over all the factors; not all the people involved – but there are others I can do something about. I’ve spoken with Carl again, who was delighted I gave his diary back – I invented a cock-and-bull story about me tidying Amber’s house and unearthing it, saying one of the kids had found it but it had got jumbled in with their toys. Amber had taken far too long to find it, and I had to do the job myself in the end because it was affecting Carl’s functioning. Why she’d hidden it under her mattress is beyond me; I spent over an hour searching for it. I informed Carl that she felt hugely embarrassed and so not to mention it to her. He was just grateful to have it back. As for Nick, he is still very much onside, thankfully, and I’m working on Amber. I’ve a plan for the others.

Davina is my priority for today.

The look of shock on her face is a picture.

They’re all the same these do-gooders. Busybodies. Interferers. Whatever you want to call them. When the chips are down, when they’re confronted – they all pretend to be innocent. Geraldine Harvey was the same. Yet, even all these years later it appears she hasn’t learned her lesson.

I hope for Davina’s sake she can take a friendly warning – that she learns from this.

‘What do you want?’ she barks in my face the second she opens her front door.

‘Just a brief chat – that’s all,’ I say. After a few moments of hesitation – some furtive glances over her shoulder – she lets me inside.