Now, he was halfway home and she was hammering at the boot of the car. It was upsetting. Almost as bad as Elspeth doing nothing but sobbing all day. He’d taken to slipping sedatives into her food to get some peace. He was going to need a new prescription from his doctor if he had to quieten both his wife and his daughter from now on.

Quarter of an hour later, he arrived home and readied himself for a fight.

Meggy was equally ready. The screaming started when the first rays of light hit the inside of the boot. He smashed an ungentle hand down on her mouth, leaned forward and growled at her.

‘Keep screaming like that and you’ll leave me no choice but to throttle you. You think I want that? I’m a nice man, Meggy, but you’re not being a nice girl, and that’s not fair. Now shut up, or I’ll hurt you.’

That did stop her screaming, to his amazement. She glared at him, an unmistakably furious stare, more adult than childlike, as if he’d just crashed a wedding and vomited down the bride’s dress.

Fergus looked away from her, pulling her arms upwards so he could throw her over his shoulder, and carried her into the house, setting her down only when they were inside the kitchen and he’d locked the door securely. The internal door through to the lounge was open. Meggy took a look at it, turned back to Fergus and ran at him full pelt, punching his groin as she charged.

‘Fuck you,’ she shouted. ‘I’m going to kill you!’

Fergus held her by the shoulders, keeping her at arm’s length.

‘Does your mother let you speak to her with that filthy mouth?’ he yelled.

‘Carmen’s not my mother. She’s a bitch! You lied about everything. Help,’ she yelled. ‘Help me. I’ve been kidnapped!’

Fergus wished he could just hit her again, but Meggy’s eyes were already blackening from the earlier blow he’d dealt her, and she had a dry trail of blood snaking from nose to chin. Carmen wasn’t the girl’s mother at all. His research had been flawed. That was what came of rushing. His head ached. He wanted her to be quiet now.

‘I won’t hurt you,’ he told her. ‘I mean, I will if you don’t stop. I’ll have to. I can’t just let you carry on. But if you’ll just quit it, everything’ll be fine.’

‘You’re going to rape me. And kill me. I’m not stupid. I watch the news. They teach us about men like you at school.’

‘Don’t be disgusting. I’ve no intention of raping anyone. What would my wife think of me if I did that?’

Meggy took a step back, stared at him.

‘Are you simple?’ she asked.