We saw him once snogging a girl from Flora’s form at school when she’d been in year eleven. Her name was Deborah Price and she’d only just turned fifteen. They’d been down on the beach, almost hidden behind one of the dunes, when we’d stumbled upon them. She had a bikini on and his hands were all over her. Leo would have been thirty-six. And, okay, she had a reputation for sleeping around and looked older than her years with a very curvy figure. But still. He should have known better. She was under age. We never told anyone although even then we’d known there was something unsavoury about it. He’d leaped away from her when he spotted us and tried to pretend it wasn’t what it looked like. But we’d seen too much.

We never mentioned it again, even to each other.

After Flora disappeared, Leo was arrested but Hayley gave him an alibi. I heard they split up not long after.

If I wrote a story about him now, would I reveal this secret? It would certainly add fuel to the fire and I know that’s what Ted would want me to do. But it would hurt Margot and Heather. If it was another family I’d do it in a heartbeat.

Leo asks what I’d like to drink and calls the young waitress over. I order a caramel latte, then pull out the chair opposite him and slide into it, shrugging off my coat.

‘So, Jess. I’m intrigued. Why did you want to meet after all these years?’ He leans forwards and gazes at me intently. A lock of hair falls into his eyes and I’m momentarily disarmed.

‘Um. Actually,’ I say, when I’ve recovered, ‘it’s a bit awkward.’ I can feel myself blushing. This is ridiculous.

He leans back in his chair and I notice a hint of a smirk he’s trying to hide. Shit! He thinks I’ve called him out of the blue to hook up. Inwardly I squirm. ‘I’m a reporter,’ I blurt out.

The smile disappears from his face and he sits up straighter. ‘A reporter?’

‘I’m covering the story of the shootings. And Heather …’

He fiddles with the handle of his cup, averting his eyes. ‘So why do you want to see me? I’ve tried to keep out of it.’

‘She’s your niece.’

He lifts his eyes to mine. ‘I’m well aware of that.’ His voice has lost its previous warmth.

‘And Margot. She needs you. After everything she’s been through …’

He holds up his hand. ‘You know nothing about it.’

‘Of course I do,’ I say hotly. ‘I’ve been in touch with Margot. She means a lot to me.’

He sighs. ‘Not again.’

‘What do you mean?’