Heather was gratified to see that her sister was limping. So she was playing along. She couldn’t be that drunk or drugged. It was okay, she thought, breathing a sigh of relief. It was all going to be okay. She just needed to keep her sister away from Dylan. Just for a few weeks, until the fair moved on. That was all. And to do that she’d need Jess’s help.

Chapter 15

15

Guns. They were such a big part of our lives, weren’t they? First at the farm in Kent, and then later, when we moved to Tilby. We were never scared of them, even as kids. We’d learned to handle them when we were young. Our father had made sure of that.

Guns. We’ve caused so much destruction with them. And as I lie here, questioning whether I’ll die, I wonder if Mum and Dad ever regretted showing us how to use them.

Chapter 16

16

Margot

It’s been nearly eighteen years since Margot saw DCI Gary Ruthgow but as soon as she spots him from across the field she recognizes him straight away. Her stomach drops. Why would someone as important as him come all this way? She doesn’t think she could bear more bad news.

As he strides towards her she can tell he’s put on weight, and now walks with a slight limp, but he still has a good head of hair, although it’s peppered with white now. He’s always held himself well, upright and commanding, as though about to address the room. He’s wearing a thick wool coat that reaches his knees, with a navy suit underneath. He’ll get his shoes mucky walking across the grass, she thinks, as she steps down from the caravan. Her green Hunter wellies are thick with mud. She brushes imaginary horse hair from her gilet as she swallows her panic. She knows everything’s okay with Heather. She was only with her a few hours ago and there was no change: she’s still in a coma but stable. So what horrible life-changing news is he here to impart this time? She thinks of everyone she loves, mentally ticking them off on her fingers: Ethan is at nursery, Adam is catching up with some book-keeping, and her brother, Leo, is at his partner’s house in Bristol, although she hasn’t seen him for a while. She thinks it’s yet another girlfriend. One she hasn’t met. She’ll probably be the same as the others, though: tall, pretty and young. Too young for him, most likely. Yet she doubts Gary Ruthgow has come all this way to talk about her brother.