---

Henry phoned the quiz team members as he threatened to do. It transpired I wasn’t the only one driven by greed and desire for wealth because they chose not to believe him. Everything would have been fine too had it not been for Tessa. She’d been ruminating over Henry’s phone call and had decided to leave the country for a new start. She intended ringing each member of the syndicate to tell us of her decision and advise us to do the same in case the call hadn’t been a hoax.

As it happened she rang me first, and Ella answered the phone. Ella calmed her down and advised her not to tell the others of her plans. There was no point in alarming them. She told her the phone call was definitely a ploy to cheat her of her money. She’d talk to me.

And she does.

‘You total half-wit,’ she snaps. ‘You’ve probably ruined everything.’

‘No, I can fix it. I’ll talk to Henry. He won’t let me down. He loves us. He adores Astra. He won’t spoil it for us. Everyone has a price. He and Lauren want to have fertility treatment. It’s really expensive. I’ll offer him the money so they can start the programme. He won’t be able to refuse.’

She offers a smile that distorts her face, pulling it into a grimace, exaggerated by the horrid scar.

‘At last, you’re using your brains. Make sure he takes the money. I’ll call on Tessa and make sure she keeps silent about her intentions. If this all becomes exposed, you’ll be the first to pay for it. I knew they couldn’t be trusted.’

---

Ella leaves to visit a woman she knows – Cassie – who’s in hospital. Five minutes later, the pay-as-you-go mobile rings. It’s his number. I answer.

‘On my way,’ is all he says.

Astra is colouring a picture of me and Ella and her, all holding hands, in front of a big house. She’s drawn a massive sun above the roof, but when I tell her it’s too large, she gives me a happy smile. I hope she’ll help win Henry over. He spies her when he comes in, and she drops her crayon immediately and races into his arms, shouting his name in delight. He crouches down and chats quietly to her and I think it’s going to be all right.

‘I’ve decided to notify the lottery authorities,’ he says from his position on the floor, without any preamble.

I’m at a loss for words. This isn’t how I planned the conversation. I was supposed to offer him a share of the jackpot, for IVF treatment. I know how badly he and Lauren want children.

‘No, please don’t,’ I say. I don’t know how to convince him. My thoughts tangle themselves and words stick in my throat. Finally, I blurt out, ‘This isn’t just about me. It’s about Ella. She desperately needs the money for plastic surgery. Don’t do this to us. She can’t go through life the way she is.’

He distracts Astra by handing her a red crayon and asking her to draw his car. As she does so, her face screwed in concentration, he speaks.

‘I’m sorry for Ella but there are lots of people who manage with disfigurements far worse than hers. I can’t stand by knowing you’ve stolen from somebody and duped others to be part of your plan. I’m sorry, Liam. I have to report it.’

‘But I’ll go to jail. What about Ella and Astra?’

‘I doubt they’d be found guilty of anything. They’re not party to this. You ought to take responsibility for the entire unfortunate incident. Confess and say no one else other than you knew that ticket was stolen. That way, you won’t be involving the others you hoodwinked.’

‘No, you don’t understand. I can’t leave Ella alone.’

His face changes, lines crease his forehead and suddenly he seems so much older than his years. ‘Of course you can,’ he says. ‘She’ll be fine.’

‘No, you don’t understand. She needs me. She can’t live without me. I look after her.’

‘She’ll get help – she has us – and I’m sure she’ll find a job to see her through.’

‘I don’t mean look after her in that way,’ I yell. ‘I help her when she has the nightmares and is shaking and crying with fear. It’s me she turns to when she can’t get out of bed for fear he’ll find her.’ Of course, I’m lying. She doesn’t get the nightmares any more. They stopped years ago but I’m not thinking clearly – desperate for Henry to suddenly see sense, tell me it’s okay and he won’t report me – and words tumble without me having any control over them.

He sighs. ‘A doctor will be able to help her. She needs professional help. With treatment she’ll get over the attack, Liam. She’s stronger than you think. The knife attack was random. That person won’t be looking for her.’

‘I’m not talking about the knife attack. I mean Johnny Hounslow. She still has nightmares about killing him. She sees him in her nightmares, coming back for revenge.’ My mouth falls open. What have I said? Henry blinks slowly like a reptile. His face closes.