‘Yes, and she told us what happened between him and Erin. It wasn’t an affair, Faith. They didn’t begin a relationship when she was married, it was the exact opposite. They were the ones who were engaged first, but when she was diagnosed, Nick dumped her. He didn’t want her illness getting in the way of his career. She met Josh later, while she was having treatment.’

There was no snappish response this time and they walked on in silence. That was good, April told herself. Faith needed time to digest the information before being assaulted with more damning evidence.

‘Nick mentioned being a commitment-phobe in his youth,’ Faith said eventually, having examined the yawning holes April had picked in Nick’s story. She was trying to knit it back together. ‘And I can see why he would want us to think he kept away because Erin was married, not because she was ill, but that doesn’t mean the affair was a lie,’ Faith said. ‘He said all along that he didn’t know how much Erin meant to him until he found out she was dying.’

‘Look at it from Erin’s perspective. Nick had dumped her when – no, because – she got sick. Would you want him back after that? And the fact is she married Josh around the time Nick claims the affair resumed. Why would she cheat on the man who stood by her with the one who ran away when she needed him most?’ asked April. Offering some balm to ease the pain she was inflicting, she added, ‘I’m not saying Nick doesn’t have genuine issues over what happened, but their so-called affair just isn’t believable – he made that bit of it up so we’d stop asking questions. He doesn’t deserve our sympathy, he really doesn’t.’

As they crossed a narrow footbridge that crossed Ditton Brook where it joined the river, Dexter kept close to Faith’s heel. Ahead of them was a formidable set of wooden steps that zigzagged up the sheer face of a cliff. April wasn’t sure she cared enough about the view to justify the climb, but Faith was leading the way.

‘Whatever the timing of his relationship, Nick loved Erin in his own way,’ Faith said with a shrug. ‘And if I were in his position, I think I’d gloss over the details too.’

‘That’s not all we found out, Faith. Nick’s sister was very open with us when we told her he was dating a friend of ours.’