The Therapist(52)

‘Yes.’

‘Is it when you wash your hair that you lose it?’ Eve asks. ‘Because I can recommend a really good shampoo.’

‘No, not really. I mean, I don’t notice it coming away in the shower, or even when I comb it through after – at least no more than usual. But I keep finding it all over the house, especially in the kitchen, which is just about the worst place, because it can get in the food. It won’t be so noticeable if my hair is shorter. Anyway, short hair must be so much easier to maintain.’

‘Don’t you believe it. This—’ Eve points to her hair, ‘takes a ton of gel and a lot of patience to achieve.’

I turn to Tamsin. ‘Eve said you used to be a model. Is that when you met Connor?’

‘Yes. We met at a party during London Fashion Week. I wasn’t at all interested in him, he was too brash for me, so when he asked what I was looking for in a man, I told him I wanted someone who would take me to the theatre, listen to classical music with me and spend hours reading books by my side. I felt safe saying that; it was a polite brush-off because I didn’t think he’d be interested in any of those things. But he told me I was in luck and a couple of days later, he sent me a ticket for The Tempest. I really wanted to see The Tempest, so I went along. Then came the concerts and the weekends away, where we would spend rainy afternoons curled up with a book. He suited me so perfectly that there was nothing to stop me falling in love with him.’ She takes a sip of coffee. ‘I should have told him that I wasn’t looking for a man, then he’d have left me alone.’

‘But it’s lovely that you both enjoy the same things,’ I say, surprised at the vehemence of her last remark.

She shakes her head. ‘We don’t. As soon as we were married, the trips to the theatre, the classical concerts, the books – all that came to an end. If there’s something I want to see, he tells me to go with a friend.’ She gives a little laugh. ‘It’s hard to realise that the man you married never really existed at all.’

‘I know what you mean,’ I say quietly, thinking of Leo. ‘Not that Leo and I are married.’

‘Didn’t you want to get married?’ Eve asks.

‘It never really came up. Leo doesn’t believe in marriage anyway. He says he’s never known a happy one.’

‘Me and Will are happy,’ she protests.

‘Oh, shut up,’ Tamsin and I say simultaneously, and the three of us burst out laughing.

Eve and I walk back across the square together, then go our separate ways. In the study, I sit at my desk. I’m meant to start working but I can’t stop thinking about what Tamsin said, that Nina once told her that Oliver would sometimes go and sit in the square when he came home from work. I wish I knew if she had told the police, I wish I’d been able to hear her answer to Eve’s question. But she must have told them, it would have been criminal not to. And then I remember what she said about Connor having an affair with Nina. Did Tamsin keep back information that might have helped Oliver’s case, to protect Connor? Except I can’t be sure she did say that he’d had an affair with Nina.

Then there was Eve’s comment about the gap in the fence between our houses. Was she insinuating that Will would have been able to come and go between theirs and Nina’s without being detected? And why had Tamsin said that everyone is capable of murder if they feel threatened? Did someone know that Connor, or Will, was having an affair with Nina and threatened to tell? Did Tamsin, or Eve feel threatened because they thought their husband might leave them for Nina? Connor, Will, Tamsin, Eve – they could all have had a motive for killing Nina.

Suddenly ashamed at how easily I’m able to consider that one of our neighbours, all of whom have been perfectly lovely to me, is capable of murder, I lay my head on my desk with a groan. I don’t even know Connor or Tim very well, my fault for not going to Maria’s last Friday. I think for a moment, then lift my head from the desk and reach for my mobile.

‘I don’t suppose you and Will are free for supper tomorrow evening?’ I ask Eve.

‘We are,’ she says, sounding pleased. ‘Is Leo coming back, then?’

‘No, it’ll just be me. That is alright, isn’t it?’

‘Of course!’

‘I’m going to invite Tamsin and Connor, and Tim and Maria too. And maybe Paul and Cara,’ I add, remembering that it was Paul who told Leo about Nina helping her neighbours. ‘What do you think?’

‘I think it’s a great idea. Are you sure it won’t be too much?’

‘No, it’ll be fine. I’ll make something easy like a curry.’

‘And Will and I will bring tiramisu, another of his grandmother’s recipes!’

‘Great, thank you.’

Maria and Tim are free, Cara and Paul aren’t and Tamsin needs to see with Connor. She calls me back to confirm that Connor hadn’t planned anything for the two of them.

‘I preferred to check, in case he’d bought tickets for the theatre as a surprise for me,’ she jokes.

‘Perfect,’ I say, laughing. ‘I’ll see you at seven, then.’





Twenty-Six


In the middle of the night, I sense someone there. It’s only Nina, I remind myself, before fear can take hold.