When Tara shook her head, fresh anger rose through Faith’s body like lava. ‘Don’t take the moral high ground, Tara,’ she said. ‘How would Molly feel if she knew you’d gone as far as booking into a clinic for an abortion? What would it do to her to know her first cries had snuffed out your Parisian dreams? And how much harder would it be for Lily if she knew you didn’t want one, let alone two daughters? We all project the best images of ourselves.’

‘She’s a good mother,’ April said as Tara’s mouth gaped open.

‘But are you a good friend?’ When April looked to Tara, Faith smiled. ‘I don’t mean her. I was thinking of your other friends. Take Bree for example, or more to the point, her husband. Wouldn’t he benefit from knowing the truth? And shouldn’t Jason’s parents know that their son was a lying cheat given how important you think it is to be honest?’

‘Are you threatening us?’ asked Tara.

Faith rounded on her. ‘Do I need to?’

April and Tara gasped. From the corner of her eye, Faith could see the knife block, but there were only three knives there now. The fourth was in her hand and she was pointing it at her friends.

Faith could claim she had post-traumatic stress disorder. It was her first night back at the house and it would be understandable if she were to suffer a flashback. She could tell the police she couldn’t recall what happened. She had lost control and that part at least would be true. The knife felt good in her hand, almost as good as watching the colour drain from April and Tara’s faces. April was nearest the door to the hallway and her pale skin flickered blue from a light coming from outside the house.

‘For fuck’s sake, I was only cutting myself a slice of lemon,’ Faith said, putting down the knife. She had recognised the flashing blue light for what it was. ‘When did you call the police?’

‘I didn’t,’ replied Tara. ‘You were wrong about Josh. When I left him, he was on the phone to the detective running the investigation. Nick wasn’t the man we thought he was.’ There was more pain than fear in her voice when she added, ‘And you’re not the person I thought you were either.’

‘I was defending myself,’ Faith said, but as a single tear slipped down her cheek, even she didn’t know if it was the truth or a lie.

Eight Months Later