By the time we returned home, I felt emotionally drained. Jobie greeted us enthusiastically as we entered the house, and after we’d given him plenty of fuss, Jack let him out into the garden. I slumped into the chair. My head was buzzing with the memory of the day and the devastating knowledge that I would never see Reggie again. I felt empty and exhausted.

Jack looked at me, his head cocked to one side. He gave a sympathetic smile.

‘I’ll get the kettle on,’ he said gently. ‘I think we could both do with a cuppa.’

‘Come here a minute.’

‘Hmm?’

I eased myself from the sofa and wrapped my arms around his neck. At that moment I felt such an incredible surge of love for him, it almost took my breath away.

‘I couldn’t have got through today without you. You really are my rock.’

He pulled back for a moment, looking earnestly into my eyes, then drew me to him and kissed me on the lips. That lingering kiss told me that I was loved and wanted. It was enough to lift me from the depths of despair; to remind me that, in spite of everything, life goes on.

*

A few days after the funeral, I had just come in from Jobie’s morning walk when my mobile rang. I answered in a rush without checking the caller’s identity, and was surprised to hear Luc’s voice as I picked up. He sounded agitated.

‘Stina, I’ve had a visit from the police – I thought you should know. It’s going to be in the papers anyway, but probably won’t make the front page now. It’s turned out it wasn’t actually murder.’

I felt as if all the breath had been knocked from me. ‘What?’

‘I know. I can’t get my head round it either. Akhmad was out of the country for a few days on business at the time Reggie died – the cops had been waiting for confirmation, but he had a rock-solid alibi.’

I was stunned. ‘So … he had nothing to do with her death? And they’re quite sure – I mean, he’s not faked it or anything?’

‘It certainly looks that way, yeh.’ A breathy sigh travelled down the line. ‘I don’t know how to feel about it. I mean, it was all kind of sorted in my head, but now …’

‘But he did used to knock her about, didn’t he? I don’t suppose he’ll ever receive any sort of punishment for that. He’s a total bastard who made her life a misery but he’s got off scot-free.’ I sank into the chair. Jobie sat at my feet, staring up at me quizzically.