‘What about last night?’ He rubbed one eye with the heel of his palm. ‘What?’

‘I’m not—’ I took a deep breath. ‘I’m not entirely sure.’

‘Has something bad happened?’

‘I don’t know, Zach.’ I sat on the side of his bed. He was paler than normal, I thought absently. ‘You tell me, lovie. Has it?’

‘Not cos of Rocky getting his phone out of Lola’s top?’

‘Oh.’ I felt hopeful – momentarily. ‘Well, get up and come and talk to her.’

‘What are you on about?’ he groaned. ‘I just want to sleep.’ He tried to flop down again, but I grabbed his arms.

‘Zach.’ I shook him, more urgently now. ‘You need to get up and talk to this officer. We need to sort this out – whatever it is.’

‘It’s—’ he started, but he’d fallen back, lying at an awkward angle. ‘I don’t feel very good.’

Shortly after, he just made it to the bathroom in time to throw up violently.

Once he’d stopped being sick and made it into our living room – shortly after that, holding his hand tightly in mine – we heard what the policewoman had to say.

It was nothing to do with Rocky and Lola, and every single word was a nail in my skin.

Melissa

‘Is Cecilia here?’ Nella, pruney-lipped, asked. Not asked, in fact. Demanded. ‘We need to talk.’

Even in my current state, I could see that Nella looked less glossy than usual; more ruffled, smudges of last night’s eye make-up still below her eyes at half past ten.

‘Could you come back?’ I tried not to make it obvious I was hanging on to the door for dear life. ‘Rough night.’

‘Not really. It’s important.’ Nella looked at me and I thought, Shit, I forgot my—

She’s seen my face.

Too late.

My brain wasn’t working fast enough today.

Begrudgingly I let her in, put the kettle on and hurried to get dressed properly.

Rex, the note on the table said, had gone out to play golf while I slept – thank God for some small mercies.

By the time I returned, having dashed a load of foundation on and downed some Alka-Seltzer, retching over the basin, she’d sat herself at the dining table and was flicking through Rex’s Daily Mail.

I didn’t quite dare put my shades back on, despite my throbbing head. It was too obvious.

‘So how can I help?’ I asked with my back to her. She couldn’t see my fingers tremble on the teabags.

‘It’s Cecilia I really need to talk to, Melissa, please.’

‘Why?’ I turned back with a clutch of anxiety. ‘What’s she done?’

‘Hasn’t she told you?’ Nella’s face was stiff, her tone cold.

‘She’s still asleep, I think.’

Which was a lie. I’d heard her moving around her room just now, but I was guessing she was about as keen to talk to a Jackson as I was.

‘She hasn’t done anything.’ Nella tried a smile, but it was utterly unconvincing. ‘I’m sure she’s just so upset, it must be hard.’