He took a while to understand. ‘What have you found?’

Frustrated, I repeated what I’d learned about the sign-out book. Why couldn’t he see the significance? ‘You were right. Jack gave Caleb an alibi so he could prove that he wasn’t there. Or Shirley.’

‘Phoebe, what you have is a theory. With no proof.’

‘She was there!’

‘Phoebe. It’s an allegation you can’t prove, unless someone saw her.’

‘Caleb saw her.’

There was a long pause while the implications sank in and failed to mean what they should. ‘That’s no good if he won’t say anything. There’s something else we need to discuss.’

‘Yes?’

‘You need to ask Caleb about his plans for next year. We need to consider my child support payments.’

I caught my breath. What was wrong with him? What happened to the Stephen I married? ‘What?’

‘Caleb is eighteen. Ivy and I have talked. I’ve decided to pay some support anyway.’

‘Some?’

‘It’ll do him good to be more responsible for himself. Also, Genevieve will help Caleb. She won’t help me. She’s not related to me anymore.’

‘You think my mother should pay?’

‘She’ll want to. She has no other dependants. I’ve got Ivy and the baby.’

I started my car engine. It was obvious what I’d have to do. I wasn’t happy about it. Maybe I was like Jack’s old house, not truly fireproof.

I began to plan what I’d say on the stand. Caleb, whatever his secrets, had the right to escape being vilified, a scapegoat. When people do something wrong they’re meant to pay. Caleb wasn’t quite right, saying that. When people did something wrong, they needed to fix it. I had to fix this for him.

Jack’s ute was parked outside my house. I paused, surprised and unsure how to proceed. I’d been imagining going straight inside and telling Caleb what I had discovered, demanding he fill in the details or at least agree. But Jack didn’t yet need to know. Slowly, I approached my own house.

I opened the front door and walked quietly to the living room. Jack and Caleb stood before my open cabinet, and Jack held Shirley’s book. His forehead was creased in puzzlement – he hadn’t yet completely worked this out. ‘Hi, Phoebe. You found my mother’s book!’

It had only been a matter of time. As soon as Jack felt welcome in my house, the risk of discovery was there. I confronted him first. ‘You lied in your testimony. Caleb, what’s happening? Did you really need to do this? Involve Jack?’

He looked bewildered. His pasty face was teary. ‘I need someone to tell me what to do!’

Jack spoke into the silence. ‘I don’t understand.’ He meant court, the book, me.

I didn’t need him to understand. ‘Jack, please go.’