The gurgling sound she had heard earlier came again. There was a large soup pan nearby, but the hob was unlit. The noise had come from Nick. He was trying to speak and she caught the sound of a syllable and tried to make sense of it.

‘Water? Do you want water?’ she asked in the hope that she could do something to help.

Nick fought to hold her gaze, imploring her to listen, but when his lips moved, April couldn’t understand. His dying words were lost and would come to haunt her in the following days and weeks.

STATEMENT

The Widows’ Club @thewidowsclub

We feel we must clarify one particular matter in relation to suggestions that Nick was involved in an extramarital relationship with Erin Peters. This was a lie told to the group and we apologise unreservedly to her family for any distress caused.

Petersj @Petersjhome

Replying to @thewidowsclub

And how did that gossip get into the public domain? If your members are supposed to abide by confidentiality, why are they repeating things they know nothing about? Your group is toxic.

The Widows’ Club @thewidowsclub

Replying to @Petersjhome

Our group is not toxic. If you were a widower, you would know how isolating it can be. We thought we were supporting Nick, but he betrayed us.

36

As Faith lay in the darkness, she wanted to imagine she was back home, but the mattress was narrow and hard and the blankets rough. There was an odious smell of disinfectant and body odour, and the thumps and clangs that kept her awake were not the gentle rattles of a temperamental heating system. She was being held on remand on suspicion of manslaughter and although the duty solicitor hoped to have her out in a day or two, the waiting was interminable.

Ella had been to see her and was the only visitor Faith had allowed. It would be too painful to see Tara or April, who would want to talk about feelings and emotions, and Faith wasn’t there yet. Still in shock, she couldn’t believe what had happened, or that it had happened so fast. That same sense of shock had been reflected on her stepdaughter’s face.

‘Why have they charged you?’ Ella had demanded. ‘Haven’t you been through enough?’

‘Apparently not,’ Faith had replied, touching the dressing on her neck.

‘Does it hurt?’

‘Not as much as the thought of my home becoming a crime scene. Have you been there? Are the police trampling through every bit of my life?’

‘They’ll be gone soon. What happened, Faith?’

As Ella had leant forward, Faith had leant back. ‘Don’t you think I’m tired of hearing that question?’

‘But why are the police still holding you? Isn’t it obvious that it was self-defence?’ There had been an edge to Ella’s question, sharpened no doubt by Rosemary.

‘I would be out by now if I had a decent solicitor.’