I hear a key in the door and panic. I grab my bag. I’m not ready for her yet. I look around for somewhere to hide and find a corner by the curtain I can just about fit into. I stay there, barely breathing, as I hear Joanne walk to the kitchen. She seems to be speaking to someone yet I sense she is alone; is she on the phone?

‘They’ve kept him in – can you do anything?’ Silence as she listens, which makes me think I’m right about the phone.

‘But what about Mary? When can I meet her? Surely it’s time?’

I know who she’s speaking to now and I feel a stab of anger. Gerry. He’s become attached to Joanne, as I’d feared he would. I think about texting him from my hideaway, but what would that achieve? I must wait for Aoife. That’s the plan; that’s what I must do.

While I wait, I listen as Joanne clatters in the kitchen, all the while speaking to Gerry. She’s starting to sound scared.

‘But what if she comes here first? What if she’s angry like you said she might be?’

I almost snort my disgust. Judas. When Aoife finds out what he’s said, she’ll make him pay. I hear a click as Joanne pushes the kettle button down.

‘Mary.’

‘Aoife?’ I whisper.

‘Shhhh.’

I exhale my relief she’s here.

‘What’s Joanne doing?’ she asks.

‘Talking to Gerry.’

‘Always weak, that man.’

I feel a stab of something – protection? It was Gerry, after all, who saved me.

‘He’s on our side, though,’ I say.

‘I’ve told you, never trust a man. It’s only the two of us we can trust.’

‘Yes,’ I say, before hearing Joanne move into the living room. I freeze.

‘Not long now,’ Aoife says. ‘Be strong. We can do it – together we can do anything.’

I listen. Joanne is on the sofa now. There is silence.

‘Have you got the knife?’ Aoife asks. I look at the knife in the waistband of my skirt, just like it was all those years ago.

‘Yes,’ I whisper back.

‘Good. Then it’s time.’

‘Who’s there?’

I can almost see Joanne now, upright on the sofa, scanning the room for the origin of the sound.

‘Come on.’ Aoife’s tone is urgent and she’s right; we’re only going to get one shot at this.

‘Let’s go,’ she says. ‘Let’s eliminate the proof once and for all.’

I stand. Joanne sees me and pushes herself back against the pillows she neatly stacked the night before. I pull the knife from my skirt.

‘Mary?’ Joanne asks.

It must be strange for her to see me after all this time. I nod.

‘Mary, Gerry is coming to help you.’ Her face is white, eyes taking in the room, searching for her phone.