She shut the laptop and slid it under the sofa, the movement causing her to wince. She was being stupid; she should take some damn painkillers. Instead, she reached for the wine. She switched on the TV, hoping to find something to divert her attention, pleased to find Thor. It was her guilty secret, she absolutely loved Marvel movies. She’d seen it before; they’d gone to Cape Town for a holiday and it had been one of five movies she’d watched on the twelve-hour flight while Jack snored quietly beside her.

It was complete escapism. She sipped her wine, relaxing for the first time. The police had her case in hand. The next day, she’d find out what Stuart had to say and hopefully, it would throw some light on Jack’s worries. Until then, she’d say nothing. Tonight, when he got home, she’d ask him to order a takeaway again and they could relax and watch TV together. There was no point in bringing anything up until she had some facts. And anyway, she didn’t have the energy. She’d find some before the morning.

26

If Jack objected to having a takeaway again, he said nothing. Apart from asking Molly if she was feeling a little better, he barely spoke the whole evening.

‘How’s Charlie?’ she asked, searching for a safe topic of conversation and anyway genuinely interested in how he was coping with his break-up.

Jack pushed his plate away and shrugged. ‘Charlie isn’t the kind of man to let a little thing like his wife walking out on him interfere with his life.’

‘Zara walked out on him? They seemed such a happy couple.’

‘That’s you all over,’ Jack said, with a faint sneer. ‘You see what you want to see. Everything in your garden is always rosy, always so damn perfect.’

Molly put her fork down and pushed her half-eaten meal away. ‘You make it sound like a bad thing, Jack.’

He reached for his beer. ‘No, I’m sorry. Sorry, okay, I’ve had a tiring day.’

While she’d been sitting around recovering from having been pushed in front of a car. The unfairness of it all stung. If he was tired, she was physically and mentally exhausted.

‘I’m going to bed,’ she said abruptly, getting to her feet. She picked up her plate, then put it down again. Okay, he didn’t want her to be perfect, she’d leave the damn thing where it was. It was childish, and it might have made her smile if she hadn’t felt so miserable.

‘You’re obviously in pain, take some of the painkillers the hospital prescribed you,’ he said, reaching out to caress her arm.

She took some comfort in his touch and put her hand over his. ‘Yes, I might do. Goodnight.’