He tried to move past her but she caught him firmly by the elbow – smelling the aftershave that wasn’t his, that must be Mike’s – and propelled him into the kitchen and through to the living room, forcing his shoes off him at the door. They were stained and clumped with grass. Something was compelling her to act, and act fast, before the thought had even crystallised in her head. The same feeling she’d had so many times – cover up for him. Don’t let anyone see. Get him away. Because if anyone knew the truth, it would all come tumbling down, the life she’d spent almost twenty-five years building and perfecting. ‘Lie down,’ she hissed, forcing him on to the sofa. ‘Just lie there, for fuck’s sake. Take this off.’ She pulled his arms out of the jumper, his head getting stuck in it. She guided him free like a child and looked around her, then quickly stuffed the jumper down the back of the sofa. Later, she could deal with that. There was a pile of rubbish behind the shed, and she remembered Ali saying the gardener would burn it on Monday. For now it just had to be hidden. There wasn’t time to think, but all the same she was very sure what had to be done. It was the same as all those years ago, the night of the college ball. Hearing that someone had been hurt – seeing Callum weaving across the lawn, a drunk dazed look on his face. Just knowing she had to hustle him, say he’d been with her, get his clothes into the college laundry room as soon as possible. Just to be careful. Just in case he’d done something that might ruin it all, the life they were about to embark on in London, both successful lawyers, with money and prestige. A holiday home. A new car every year. All the things Callum had taken for granted growing up, but which Jodi had never had. Back then she’d known she had to protect the future she was building, and tonight was the same. Her baby was due so soon. She so very nearly had everything she wanted. And so she had to tidy up, tie up loose ends, just in case. Maybe it was no surprise she’d gone into criminal law. She had that sort of mind. Testing for holes, looking for details.

That night, Callum lay down obediently on Ali’s sofa, throwing his arms over his head. She could see sleep was already taking him, he was that drunk. ‘Sorry,’ he mumbled. ‘Sorry, Jod. She wanted to.’