‘No,’ April tried to call back, but her voice was lost to an echo that floated across her mind. ‘No!’ Faith had yelled. ‘Keep away from me!’ Nick would have been crossing the kitchen towards her with the knife in his hand. Faith may not show it, but she had been through a traumatic experience. April had to keep reminding herself of that.

When Faith reappeared, she placed a tray on the side table next to April. There was a bowl of nuts, two tall glasses and a smaller one filled with a dark amber liquid. ‘I couldn’t hear you,’ she said, ‘so I brought you the brandy anyway. My God, you look like you need it.’

‘Thanks,’ April said, taking the shot glass Faith pressed into her hand.

Faith lifted up her gin and tonic. ‘Cheers,’ she said.

The brandy warmed April’s tongue and loosened the muscles in her shoulders. She rubbed the back of her neck and noticed Faith do the same.

‘How are you?’ April asked.

‘On the mend,’ she replied as her hand moved to the scar on her neck. A newly painted fingertip followed a sharp, thin line about three inches long. Fortunately, she hadn’t needed stitches. ‘It’s the mental scars that will take longest to heal.’

When Faith sat down on the overfilled sofa, she kicked off her shoes and tucked her feet beneath her. April tried to relax too and took another sip of brandy.

‘I hope Ella was polite,’ Faith said. ‘She can be a bit of a madam.’

‘No, she was lovely.’

When Faith extended an arm towards her, April tried not to flinch. Faith was only reaching for the bowl of nuts and, after scooping up a handful, she popped one in her mouth. ‘What did you talk about?’

‘She said you’re not happy with what she told the police about Derek.’

Faith scowled. ‘That’s an understatement.’

‘She’s worried about you, Faith.’

‘Oh, don’t be fooled. She might wrap it up as concern, but that child is determined to muddy the waters. Why my marriage should have anything to do with the police investigation is beyond me.’

‘They’ll want to understand your frame of mind at the time of the attack. Nick was trying to take Derek’s place after all,’ said April. ‘And I’m sure Ella wasn’t intending to cause trouble.’

‘Take it from someone who’s known her for ten years and not two minutes, the only thing Ella is worried about is this house.’

It was an odd thing, listening to Faith and not being able to trust what she said. Faith’s stubborn determination to cling to her false beliefs was going to lead to a serious miscarriage of justice if she wasn’t careful. April had to make her see sense, but she couldn’t do it on her own. She wished Tara would hurry up.

‘Ella thinks Derek was going to divorce you.’