Across the landing I could hear the boy, humming to himself. I desperately wanted to talk to him, show him this pill bottle, but both Willow and Nella were between me and him.

‘I just wanted a quick word with Willow. I think she’s been lying.’

‘And I think you’d better go now, Melissa.’ Nella was white with rage. She put her hand out. ‘I’ll have whatever you’re stealing from me.’

‘Stealing?’ My voice rose with indignation. ‘I’m not stealing anything! I’m trying to understand why your poor daughter’s got it in for the other kids.’

‘I haven’t. Look at my life.’ Willow spread her arms out wide. ‘Look at my house.’ She caught my eye. ‘Look at me! Why would I want anything they had?’

I looked at her hard little face, pretty enough but inscrutable.

Why indeed? As far as I could see, the Jacksons’ life was all built on old school ties, inequality and air. Marcus looked like he was buying his way into Parliament, and it clearly didn’t matter to them what you did wrong, because you could always pay for someone to come and clean up: someone to save you. Such innate privilege; such assumptions.

And yet, I suddenly felt terrible pity for the girl.

‘You might want to talk to your own husband before you come round here making accusations.’ Now Nella waggled her hand at me. ‘I’m waiting.’

‘My husband?’ I ignored her stupid hand. ‘No, I really don’t want to talk to him, thanks. What’s it got to do with him?’

‘He knows Zach March is a little toerag.’ She smirked at me. ‘And he was only too happy to assist when I went to see him.’

‘Is that right?’

‘Yes. A small donation to the new science block helped, of course.’

‘I see. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you, yeah? You might want to count them, love.’ I banged the Xanax bottle into Nella’s hand. ‘See how many your daughter’s nicked,’ I said, conveniently forgetting about the pills in my own pocket.

Grabbing my bag, I paused at the front door.

Upstairs they were shouting at each other.

Half satisfied that I’d at least put a cat amongst the racing pigeons, I left, still frustrated – and furious with Rex.

More furious with Rex.

I texted Ruby as I got in my car. Found Xanax. Wouldn’t take much to knock Zach out on top of a few beers. W’s not admitting anything but something’s not right.

She replied quickly. Marcus disappeared into back of that Portuguese café with some bloke. None the wiser. 🙀 Will wait bit longer.

I chucked the phone down.

I needed to see Cecilia again and talk to her properly.

And I needed to see her phone.

I sat in the car, thinking, holding the bottle of Zolpidem I’d nicked. Nella was quite right – I was a thief.

Then I made another call.

Ruby

I was opening the shop, still distracted by what I’d seen when Marcus had left the café, when the call came. Not recognising the number, I nearly didn’t answer it, so preoccupied was I – but thank God I did.