‘That was what Toby told her to throw her off the scent.’ Nick gives a bitter laugh.

‘Why are you doing this now?’ Toby snaps at his brother. ‘You’ve kept quiet for so long.’

‘It’s this bloody party, in this bloody hotel!’ Nick cries. ‘And the housing development. I’ve been having nightmares about all of it, Toby.’

‘Then you should have talked to me.’

‘What good would that do? You’d only tell me what you’re telling me now – to keep my mouth shut.’

‘Because it’s the right thing to do.’

‘Well whether it’s right or not, I can’t do it anymore.’ Nick takes a step towards me and I brace myself to hear whatever shocking secret has him so agitated. ‘Zoe…’

Toby steps in between us. ‘Nick, you’re my brother and I love you, but you need to shut up, or I’ll have to make you shut up.’

‘Fine, make me. I don’t care anymore.’

Toby sighs. ‘Okay, just wait a minute. I’ll tell Zoe, okay?’

‘You promise?’

‘Yes.’

‘So do it now.’

‘I will, but Nick… you need to promise not to interrupt. Let me do it my way.’

‘Fine.’

I pull at my husband’s arm. ‘Tell me what?’

‘Zoe…’

Toby turns to me and I look from his face to Nick’s. As they stand there in their suits, facing me with such serious expressions, I get the strangest feeling of déjà vu. My skin prickles.

‘What is it? Just tell me.’ I can’t seem to take my eyes off Nick. He really does look terribly ill.

‘Zoe!’ Toby repeats. ‘Zoe, look at me.’

I manage to shift my gaze to my husband. He takes both my hands in his and I stare into his dark eyes. Whatever he has to tell me, it can’t be that bad. We can surely get through it together.

‘Zoe,’ he says carefully. ‘Dina isn’t missing. I’m sorry, but she’s dead. And the truth is… you killed her.’

Twenty-Four

NOW

I stare at Toby for a moment before giving a small disbelieving laugh. ‘Don’t be ridiculous.’

‘I’m sorry, Zo, but it’s true. Ten years ago, on our wedding day, you killed your sister.’

‘Toby!’ Nick cries.

‘Nick, shut up. You wanted me to tell Zoe, so I’m telling her.’

‘But—’

Toby glares at his brother. ‘I’m doing this my way.’

Nick slumps down onto the floor with his head in his hands next to where Madeline is passed out in the chair, as Toby tells me this preposterous thing.

‘I think I’d know if I did something as horrendous as killing my sister.’ I shift my gaze from Nick to Toby.

‘I’m so sorry, Zoe, but I’m telling you the truth,’ Toby says.