His hands were clenched in fists by his sides and his body was rigid. He stormed down the stairs and on towards the kitchen.

“Matt!” Helen called after him.

“I need some air,” he shouted back and she heard the kitchen door slam.

Helen thought for a moment, then said to Mills, “Send Diana a message. Tell her to meet you in an hour at the pool house. But instead of you it will be me.”

Mills’ fingers flew over the screen on her phone. “Done.” She looked at Helen closely. “What are you going to do now?”

“I need to talk to Hugh.”

Mills nodded. “I’m going to see if Matt is ok.”

*

Helen paused on the stairs and pulled her phone from her back pocket. Why hadn’t she thought about it sooner? Everyone had social media these days. Surely Diana had a profile on Facebook or Instagram. Perhaps Helen could work out what the connection was. It felt like the walls of the house were leaning in, watching over her shoulder as she opened her Facebook app and typed in the name Diana before realising she didn’t know Diana’s surname. Frustrated, she shoved the phone back in her pocket.

She sighed and trudged up the stairs on heavy legs, like she was walking to the gallows.

Hugh was lying on their bed, still fully clothed, his eyes closed and an arm slung over his face. The air was stuffy and pungent with sweat.

“Hugh?”

He opened one eye.

“Can we talk?” she said.

He sighed melodramatically.

“You know, don’t you?” Helen said.

He pulled himself up to sitting, the pillows pressed into his back, and shrugged, his mouth pulled down in a sulk. “How long?” was all he said, his voice low.

“Not long, a couple of months.”

“It’s Francesca all over again.”

“No, no, it’s nothing like that.” She sat on the bed next to him, reached out her hand, but he pulled out of her reach. “I feel nothing for Peter,” she continued. It wasn’t a lie. “It was just… I don’t know, a mid-life crisis? Stupid and stereotypical, but it was just to alleviate the boredom.”

She sounded awful in her own ears.

“Anyway, it’s done now. We need to call the police, tell them about him blackmailing you.”

Hugh’s head shot up. “You know about that?”

She nodded. “I know about the photos too.”

He surprised her by starting to cry. Big heaving gulps and gasps. Helen recoiled.

“I’ve lost it all, Helen. All our savings, everything. All we’ve got is this house, which isn’t even mine! And I haven’t done anything wrong. It’s all lies. Someone is setting me up.” His voice was wretched.

“But then why did you pay up?”