‘No!’ I gasp, squeezing my eyes closed as I grope with shaking hands for something, anything, to throw. My fingers close around the ceramic hand soap dispenser and I hurl it towards the mirror, opening my eyes in time to see my face shatter into fragments as the glass breaks into a thousand tiny pieces.

‘Allie? Are you all right in there?’ There is a pounding on the door, Rav’s voice filtering through. Rav. I grip the sides of the sink, staring down at the shards of glass that litter the porcelain. Rav is lying. My mother isn’t dead. Shock at the realization makes my throat close over and I cough before I can speak. ‘What’s going on? Was that glass I heard?’

‘I’m fine. I’ll be out in a minute.’ My voice is strong, no hint of the shakiness I am feeling. He wants me to think I’m going mad, why else would he tell such an awful lie? If he makes me think that I am mad, that I am seeing things that aren’t there, then it will make it all the easier for him to take Mina and the baby. Mina and the baby. I can’t believe I left them crying like that – will he use it against me now? Will he say that the children are safer with him, that I am neglectful? All I wanted to do was show him that I am a good mother, that I love Mina and Leo. I have to get into his account again, I have to find out exactly what he is planning so that I can see how much time I have left, so I can stop him. You will figure it out. It is my mother’s voice I hear. Splashing my face once more, brushing away the tiny shards of glass that sit in my hair as my pulse ratchets in my ears, I throw open the door to see Rav still on the landing, his face wary.

‘Al?’ He steps towards me, slowly and gently with one hand out as if taming a wild horse. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.’

‘It’s … I’m OK. I got confused.’ The lie is already formulating on my lips. Two can play this game. ‘Did I say my mum? I meant your mum. Avó. Avó suggested getting Mina’s room painted. A good idea, hey?’ The landing is growing dim now, the sky outside darkened by thick clouds. The trees whisper to me, but I keep my attention on Rav.

‘Right. Yeah. My mum.’ Rav follows me as I walk down the stairs, into the sitting room. ‘Listen, Allie, I have to pop out, just for half an hour. Will you be OK?’