‘I didn’t until what happened with Simon. I just assumed Clive got warned off and thought better of helping me. Reece can be very persuasive when he needs to be. I think Simon’s death really drove home to me that I am never getting out of here. That Clive is probably dead, as well.’

‘How long have you been together?’

‘For ever and a day. A lifetime, a life sentence,’ Angela said and wiped an invisible tear from her cheek. ‘I’m sorry I can’t tell you what you need to hear. You had better get going before he gets back.’

Imogen didn’t feel right leaving Angela here. Each time she left felt more wrong than the last, as though some invisible clock on Angela’s life were running down. She couldn’t force her to leave, though. Who would that help?

‘Stay safe, Angela.’

‘Thank you. You, too,’ Angela said.

Imogen stood up from the table with a little more understanding of what Angela was dealing with. She could see the hopelessness in her eyes. Angela was little more than a possession for Reece and he would not relinquish her without a fight. Imogen felt completely impotent at the situation.

Imogen walked out of the house and back to the car. She had to go back and write up both of the pointless interviews she had conducted today. It felt wrong to walk away. Thank God, at least, they didn’t have any children.

Chapter Fifty-Three

I knew this would happen. I wish I had just died in that river, then no matter what happened to R, I wouldn’t have to deal with this guilt. I don’t feel bad for him; I feel bad for anyone who tries to help me. I’m not worth all this trouble. Simon is gone now because of me. I still see the images of him in my head. Are they real, or am I creating them to fill in the blanks?

He’s bloody, he reaches out to me, then he stops moving. I remember him staring at me, eyes fixed, one pupil blown and his face barely recognisable. I did that to him. My selfishness. R told me there was no way out. I should have listened to him. Am I this weak that I can’t just leave on my own and disappear?