‘No, Justine, they weren’t,’ Tara hit back. ‘Faith might have overstated her position but she would have been happy enough on her own if Nick hadn’t targeted her. It’s only a matter of time before we find out what other skeletons were lurking in his past. Other victims.’

Tara was counting on it, for Faith’s sake. There had to be something to explain how Nick had gone from being a spineless charmer to the kind of man who would cut a woman’s throat.

‘It’s entirely possible. Social media has gone into overdrive,’ said Justine. ‘Actually, that’s why I called around. It’s not only Nick who’s getting the blame for what happened. We’re coming under fire too.’

‘Who’s we?’

‘The group,’ she replied. ‘And I know we agreed not to make any statements, but we have to say something, Tara. If it goes on like this, our reputation will be destroyed and we could be forced to disband the group.’

‘That’s not such a bad idea,’ Tara replied. ‘What if we are to blame?’

‘This was not our fault!’ Justine said, her eyes widening in shock. ‘Faith and Nick are responsible for their own actions and this can’t overshadow all the good we’ve done over the years. Our members need us now more than ever, and I for one have every intention of going to the meeting next week.’

‘With photographers staked outside?’ Tara asked. ‘It’s too soon, Justine. I appreciate people need to talk about what happened, but is that wise, or even legal, while a police investigation is ongoing? Faith certainly couldn’t attend, and I don’t think April would be up to it either.’

‘Or you?’

Tara’s breathing had quickened. If she didn’t feel so guilty she would wash her hands of the whole thing. She had mismanaged the group and she had mismanaged Molly. Something had to give and it wasn’t going to be her family. ‘Look, why don’t we postpone the meeting until we know whether Faith is or isn’t going to be released? In the meantime, we can issue a statement asking the press to respect the group’s privacy.’

‘We’d have to confirm that Nick was a member. At the moment it’s only speculation.’

‘Then we give them facts,’ Tara snapped back.

Justine didn’t flinch. Her voice was gentle when she said, ‘Do you want me to do it? I could put a short message on Twitter.’

Tare could hear her girls’ giggles floating from upstairs. The sweet sound calmed her. ‘I’d appreciate that. I’m not sure I have the stomach to read what people are saying out there.’

‘Leave it with me.’

38