When Liam had first confessed who he was, she had asked him to leave, and to be fair he had, but only for an hour or so. The stubborn man had returned with his dog and an overnight bag, promising he would stay out of her way, but insisting on being close by in case she needed him.

Perhaps Hannah should have told him no, but truth was, it was comforting knowing he was in the next room and it made her feel safer. He had started out on the sofa, but her nightmares had brought him into her bed on the second night, and now they didn’t bother with the pretence. It wasn’t about sex – she was still too sore and traumatised for that. It was just about comfort. Besides, she was still learning to forgive him and didn’t know what the future held for them.

He hadn’t made any further comments about leaving Wells. Hannah guessed it would happen eventually, but for now they seemed to live from day to day. Anything further into the future was too far off to worry about.

While he took nights, Rosie insisted on being there for the days. Her frenzied attack on Bill had been a shock to Hannah at the time and as a result, the police had been interested in talking to her, but they had quickly agreed that years of pent-up frustration at the Wickhams had taken their toll.

Hannah was the most important person in Rosie’s life and seeing Bill hurting her friend had triggered something in her brain. She was remorseful for the intensity of the attack, but defiant that Bill had deserved it.

As for Bill. He was still unconscious in hospital. The police were hopeful he would recover, knowing he was a vital link to telling them where Mrs W was. She hadn’t been seen now in over two weeks. Given that Bill himself had been fairly elusive before attacking Hannah, it was assumed he had been with his mother.

They were also keen to speak with him about the murder of Lauren Bell. An eyewitness having placed him at the scene.

Both Lauren’s and Jill’s deaths were something that seemed to bother Liam.

‘His pattern with you was so completely different.’

They were in bed and facing each other, deep in conversation, which seemed to be a routine over the last few nights. Hannah seeking comfort in talking until she fell asleep.

‘You mean compared to how he killed Jill and Lauren?’

‘Yeah. Jill fell, or was pushed, down the stairs and Lauren was suffocated. There was nothing to suggest he tortured them beforehand. Why suddenly change things for you? You saw what was in his bag.’

‘I did and can we not talk about it please?’ Hannah shuddered, remembering.