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‘That’s nonsense.’

‘What did happen, Carl?’

She could see the hurt on his face. ‘She left me. Cancelled her phone, closed her bank account. Didn’t answer emails. Disappeared.’

‘Why?’

‘I never got an answer to that.’

‘What did you think had happened?’

‘I suppose I wasn’t really the best husband. I was building my business, and I became quite obsessed with it. I was rarely home. If I wasn’t in the office until late, I was travelling.’

‘She didn’t say anything to you about it?’

‘Nope. I came home one day and she was gone.’

‘And you didn’t look for her?’

‘Of course I did,’ he said. ‘I tried everything. But in the end it was obvious she didn’t want to be found. All her stuff – all the stuff she cared about – was gone, so I knew she’d planned it. I know it sounds strange; I couldn’t believe she had done it, either. And honestly, I blamed myself. I thought I must have been the most appalling husband if she felt like that was the only way out for her. The guilt was overpowering. And the self-hatred – I had ruined the best thing in my life. I was devastated. I just wanted to move on. So I did what I always do, and threw myself into my work.

‘I did wonder on a few occasions whether there was something going on. For a while I wondered if she was having an affair. I wouldn’t have blamed her; I was neglecting her. But there were signs. I got the sense she was hiding things, and there were times when I called her and she didn’t answer. When I looked on “find your phone”, she was not sharing her location. I’d ask her to start sharing again, because I felt as though she was being evasive.’

He caught Mary’s eye.

‘But given what’s happening now, I’m pretty sure Ryan had something to do with it.’

‘You think he killed her?’

Carl’s face twisted in pain. ‘Jesus,’ he said. ‘Do you think so?’

‘Who knows? But even if he did, it doesn’t tell us why we’re here, or what he wants.’

There was more she would have asked, but before she could they heard the sound of an engine, followed by the noise of tyres slowing to a stop.

The Husband

Ryan stepped just inside the bedroom door. He gave a slow, sardonic round of applause.

‘Well done,’ he said. ‘I go out for half an hour to get some firewood – I love those places by the road where they leave it out and trust you to pay for it, because who doesn’t like free firewood? – and you do this. You removed your gags. How did you do it?’

‘Magic,’ Carl said. ‘Watch out or we’ll put a spell on you.’

‘Teeth?’ Ryan said. ‘Not that it makes a difference. Although I suppose at least you two had a chance to catch up on old times?’

Mary looked at her husband. It was strange, but she already did not recognize him. He was not the person she had married – that was obvious – he was someone completely different, someone cold and ruthless and utterly devoid of compassion.

It made her feel sick to look at him; sick, but also very, very frightened. The Ryan she thought she knew would never have been able to do this; what this Ryan was capable of she had no idea.

‘Gave us a chance to compare notes on you,’ Mary said. ‘You can imagine what we said.’

‘I could care less what you said,’ Ryan said. ‘I’m not sure you quite understand the situation you’re in, Mary. Would you like me to explain?’

‘No thanks. The less I hear of your voice, the better.’

He rolled his eyes. ‘You’re so stupid. I only really understood that about you quite recently. When we met, I thought OK you’re not Allison, but you’re not that bad. You were a bit old, and I found you boring and slow and small-minded, but I was able to convince myself that you were at least something like her.’

‘Glad I was of service.’