Molly swayed, feeling an arm snaking around her back to support her as they moved across the room into the hallway. She wasn’t sure she was going to make it. Jack had been right, she should have stayed in hospital.

‘Hang onto the banisters,’ Amelia said as they climbed the stairs. ‘Hold on tightly, or we’ll both fall.’

When Molly staggered out of the en suite a few minutes later, Amelia was leaning against the door frame. ‘There’s no point in going down again,’ she said. ‘You look exhausted. Get some sleep, I’ll head off.’

Molly took the few steps to her bed and sat heavily.

‘They were strong drugs the hospital gave you,’ Amelia commented.

‘They’ll be out of my system soon.’ Molly looked across the room at her friend. ‘Why did you say the man I met had amazing brown eyes?’

Amelia frowned. ‘What?’

‘The other day… you mentioned them.’ Molly felt worse than she had earlier; weaker, fuzzier. Her eyes widened in alarm as Amelia kept swimming in and out of focus.

Amelia. Had Jack been right, was she the key to everything? Molly had let her in and had drunk the tea she’d made. It was getting harder to stay focused. Amelia seemed very far away, her voice fading. But her eyes were still sharp; Molly could see them peering at her, assessing.

If Jack was right, Amelia wouldn’t want to fail at this second attempt on Molly’s life.

23

There was a heavy weight on Molly’s chest. Panicking, she tried to push it off but she was caught under it and couldn’t free herself. Gasping, she made one last effort, gave a firm push and felt the weight move. And then she was free – and immediately cold.

Opening her eyes, she saw the duvet she’d pushed to the floor. She’d been dreaming. How long she’d been asleep, she’d no idea, but it was almost dark, the room lit only by the street lights outside. She remembered thinking that Amelia had poisoned her and shut her eyes, opening them quickly when she realised, she’d still been there when she’d… what? Fallen asleep or collapsed?

Pushing up onto her elbows, Molly listened. There wasn’t a sound to be heard. She reached for the lamp and clicked it on to look at her watch. Almost six. It would have been easier to stay where she was, but with a grunt she swung her feet to the floor and stood, keeping her hand on the bedhead until she was sure she wasn’t feeling dizzy.