The Therapist(75)

My mind is still trying to catch up with what he said about the hair. ‘I’m not imagining it, Leo.’

‘I didn’t say you were. I thought there was someone in the house after our drinks evening, remember?’

‘After the first couple of times, I did think I was imagining it,’ I say. ‘Because nothing ever happened. But Eve told me that before Nina died, she used to think there was someone in the house.’

‘The first couple of times?’ His voice rises in alarm. ‘How many times has this happened?’

‘I don’t know – four or five, maybe.’

‘And you’ve carried on staying there?’

‘Yes, because nothing ever happened. As I said, I thought I was imagining it. But to get back to my original question, does anyone else have keys to the house?’

‘Yes, Will and Eve. I gave Will a set after we moved in.’

My heart plummets. ‘Right.’

‘You don’t seriously think either of them have been letting themselves into the house to try and scare you?’

‘No,’ I say, although my mind is screaming Will’s name.

‘What was all that about hair in the wardrobe?’

I cringe internally at the mix-up. ‘Sorry, I’ve got a call coming through. It’s Debbie. Can I call you back later?’

‘Sure.’

I hang up. Debbie isn’t calling but I need to think. I really need to think.

Ten minutes later, I’m on Eve’s doorstep waiting for her to answer the door.

She flings it open. ‘Perfect timing!’ I can hear voices coming from the kitchen. She opens the door wider. ‘Come in.’

‘No, it’s fine, I don’t want to disturb you, I just—’

She reaches for my arm. ‘Don’t be silly, the others are here. It’s a bit noisy with the children but I thought it was about time we had tea at mine.’

‘Great,’ I say, remembering that after their yoga session on Wednesdays, Eve goes with Tamsin and Maria to collect the children from school, and then they have tea together.

I follow her to the kitchen, which is full of people. Despite the cooler weather, the French doors to the garden are open and Maria’s three boys and Tamsin’s two little daughters run backwards and forwards, taking cake from the table and carrying it outside to eat. Tamsin and Maria are sitting at the table and Will and Tim are leaning against the worktop, mugs of tea in their hands.

‘Hi, Alice,’ they chorus.

I give a little wave. ‘Hi, everyone.’ I look over at Will and Tim. ‘I didn’t realise you were part of the Wednesday afternoon gatherings too.’

‘We’re only honorary members this afternoon, because we both happened to be at home,’ Tim explains.

‘And because I overheard Maria offering to bring one of her chocolate cakes,’ Will says. ‘You need to try some, Alice, it’s the best.’

‘Sit down.’ Eve hoists herself onto the worktop next to the table. ‘Will, pass Tamsin a mug for Alice.’

I pull out the chair next to Maria and she cuts me a slice of cake while Tamsin fills my mug with tea.

‘Thanks,’ I say, trying not to think that at one time or another, I’ve suspected three of the people in the room of having murdered Nina.

‘Did you have a nice time away?’ Eve asks.

‘Yes, thanks. Actually, that’s why I came over – Debbie, the friend I was staying with, is coming to spend a few days with me and I’d like to give her keys so that she can come and go as she pleases. Leo said that you have a set?’

‘Yes, hang on a second.’ Will goes over to the wall next to the fridge. ‘How is he, by the way?’

‘Fine, thank you. Working hard as usual.’ I still don’t feel ready to tell them that it’s over between me and Leo.

‘They’re here somewhere,’ Will says, running his eye over a row of keys. He chooses a keyring and holds it up. ‘It’s not this one, is it?’

‘Those are mine,’ Tamsin says.

‘I thought they were.’ Will frowns and turns to Eve. ‘Apart from your mum’s spare set, Tamsin’s seem to be the only ones here that aren’t ours. Have you got Alice’s?’

‘No, I didn’t even know we had a set.’

‘Leo gave them to me after they moved in. I put them here with the others.’ He turns back to the hooks. ‘Come and have a look, Alice, you’ll recognise them better than me.’

I leave my cake and walk over to where he’s standing.

‘Can you see them?’ he asks.

‘No.’

‘We did have them, because I remember seeing a label with number 6 on it. I don’t remember Leo taking them back but maybe you could ask him.’

‘I just spoke to him, he was the one who told me you had a set.’

Will scratches his head. ‘I don’t know where they could be. Eve, did you move them, put them somewhere else?’

‘How could I, when I didn’t know we had any?’ she says archly. She jumps down from the worktop. ‘Maybe they’re in the study.’

‘Why would they be there?’

‘I don’t know but it’s the only other place I can think of to look. Come with me, Alice.’