‘I swear I didn’t hear a word any of you said,’ she stated. ‘I’m starting a new job in the laundry on the Scottie Road on Wednesday and I’ve been offered a new place to live. I knew I’d be leaving you in the lurch, so I was thinking about the best time to tell you so that you had time to prepare.’

‘As if you’d give two hoots about dropping us in it!’ scoffed Suzie. ‘As if anyone would give you a job let alone a place to stay.’

Roz stared at them. She had no idea what to say, and she wished she knew exactly what they had been saying, because at least then they’d all be on the same page. She shrugged helplessly. ‘I can only tell you the truth. It’s up to you whether you believe me or not.’

Much to Suzie’s delight, Callum had caught hold of Roz by her hair, although Lilith quickly leapt to her feet. ‘Now, son, take it easy. Let’s not go jumping to conclusions.’

The look of fear on the older woman’s face frightened Roz more than Callum’s reaction. She looked terrified, and after the conversation Roz had just had regarding Suzie’s mother, she began to think that Felix’s suspicions were true.

But Callum wasn’t listening to his mother, and his fist was trembling against the side of Roz’s cheek. She would have put it down to anger, but when she looked into his eyes, she could see something she had never seen before in Callum. He was scared. Something her father had said a long time ago entered her mind. Never approach a dog that’s scared. Fear can make them dangerous, so always take a step back and let them come to you. That was exactly how Callum looked, like a dog which had been cornered and was about to fight for its life. Her heart raced as he hissed in her ear, his voice trembling. ‘Maybe you’re telling the truth, and I hope for your boyfriend’s sake that you are, because if I ever find out you’ve been spreading lies, it won’t be you that suffers, but that horse, the one our Suzie seen you riding like you was Lady Muck. You mess with me, and the only thing he’ll be fit for is the knacker’s yard, understand?’

A feeling of complete and utter dread filled Roz. She had expected Callum to threaten her, yes, but to hear that he knew all about her time with Felix had come as a massive shock. She managed to look at him from the corner of her eye, and there was no doubt in her mind that he meant every word. Tears pricking her eyes, she nodded and tried to speak but her mouth had gone dry. Still holding her by her hair, he marched her back to the door, opened it and shoved her through.

She heard Lilith emit a scream as she nearly went over the side of the steps.