Sasha perched on a sofa in the middle of the room and felt her bum immediately slide down the back of the slippery leather, forcing her legs up in the air. To keep her dignity, she heaved herself forward to perch on the edge of the cushion.

Standing at the mantelpiece, Bethany glanced nervously at Jez, who followed them into the room and shut the door.

‘We’ve just found out I’m pregnant,’ she told Sasha and Lolly quickly. ‘Which is why we’re going out this afternoon. My parents are having a gathering for family and friends.’

‘Congratulations,’ Sasha told them both. ‘We won’t keep you very long. Where were you on Tuesday night, Mrs Weston?’

‘You can’t believe I killed Andrew Dean?’ Bethany’s voice was shrill. ‘I would never—’

‘You’re not a suspect,’ said Sasha with a reassuring smile.

Bethany didn’t know where to look. ‘If you’re here already, then it seems to me that you know where I went.’

‘What is she talking about? I thought you said you were staying in.’ Jez frowned at his wife. ‘Bethany?’

‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’ She met his concerned gaze. ‘I was merely… protecting you, the both of us.’

They heard the front door bell ring, but neither Jez nor Bethany moved. Instead, the housekeeper’s footsteps clipped along the hallway.

‘What did you do?’ said Jez.

When Bethany spoke, she addressed her answer to her husband. ‘I went to see that Jenkins person, the uncle of the girl who… the one you were questioned about.’

‘What did you go to see him about?’ asked Sasha.

Bethany took a steadying breath. ‘I paid him money to leave us alone.’

Jez shook his head, confused. ‘You did what?’

The door to the library swung open and Abs leaped inside, wearing a white hoodie with an ostentatious brand logo covering the entire chest, skinny jeans and his usual dazzling white trainers.

‘She’s done it, Kelz has got me back on the show!’ He dropped to his knees and lifted his arms to the heavens like a striker celebrating a winning goal in front of an adoring crowd. ‘I just heard from Vince, we’re filming tomorrow morning. I’m back on Laid In Essex!, guys, Abs is back!’ He jumped up, whooping and clapping. ‘Let’s get this party started!’

But Abs froze when he saw Sasha and Lolly on the chesterfield, and Jez and Bethany standing grimly at the mantelpiece. ‘What’s up?’

‘Do you mind waiting outside, please, Abs?’ said Bethany shortly.

‘No,’ Jez told her. ‘He stays, I want him to hear this.’

Abs looked at them. ‘Will somebody tell me what’s going on?’

‘The reason Davey Jenkins hasn’t been following me,’ Jez told him, ‘the reason I haven’t been attacked or threatened, is because Bethany paid him not to.’