“They want me to go down to the station tomorrow morning to answer some more questions,” he says, sinking into a chair.

“Questions? Why would they need to ask you questions?”

“Tess…” I’m pacing the room and Dad’s voice stops me in my tracks. “Jack told the police about my fight with Greg.”

“I heard about that. But it’s nothing, right? A stupid scuffle over Julia marrying you?” My shoulders are hunched, my hands hovering like they want to cover my ears. A flash of memory, one I don’t want: You told me he was the monster, Bella’s voice echoes in my head, full of so much pain. Did you tell Dad, Bella? I shriek silently. Did you tell?

Dad rubs a hand across his eyes. He’s sleeping about as much as I am, constantly on the alert with Julia.

“Before the wedding, you and Bella were out and Greg came round looking for trouble. He was shouting at Julia. I lost my temper. I hit him, Tess.”

I look at my dad, so small and even tempered. I can’t imagine it. Surely Greg would have wiped the floor with him.

Dad looks at me. “I know, I know. It’s the only fight I’ve ever been in and I…regret it.”

“What…what was he shouting at Julia about?”

“He was saying awful things about Ellie and the boys.” Dad frowns. “Does it matter?”

I shake my head. Bella didn’t tell. I’m safe.

“He didn’t fight back. I kept hitting him and he just took it,” Dad says, staring down at his hands. “I never realized how angry I was with him. All the things Julia told me when she moved in. I just…I wanted to hurt him. I hit him and he fell and his nose was bleeding and I hit him again, pulled him up and hit him again.” He shakes his head. “He didn’t try to hit me back or defend himself. It was like he wanted me to keep hitting him.”

“But…”

“It was right before he disappeared. I expected the police to come knocking after the fight. I thought that was his plan—to let me attack him, to not fight back—and then he’d go to the police and have me arrested. But they never came. He disappeared and they never came.”

I close my eyes. Behind my eyelids, Bella is sitting next to Dad, looking so sad. I open my eyes again to make her go away. “Tell them Jack lied.”

“What?”

“Tell them you argued but never fought. It was ten years ago—Jack has no proof.”

“I can’t lie to the police.”

“Why not? You didn’t do it, did you? You didn’t kill Greg.”

“Of course not, but I can’t lie.”

Not like you did, the ghost of Bella says to me, still with that sad look on her face.