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“He was here again?” I squeaked as soon as she was out of earshot.

Tristan nodded. “He got in.”

“I know.”

“Only into the utility room. When he opened the kitchen door, the alarms went off and he scarpered. The bastard is after something in your room, my old room. It’s in a shoebox. I don’t know what or where it is; that’s all I managed to see.”

“Did you, um, see inside him?”

“Yes. He never made it to prison.”

“What?”

“Yeah, he escaped while on remand.”

“I wonder why he’s just shown up now?”

“He’s been on the Costa del Sol.”

“Spain?”

“Yeah. And there’s something else.” Tristan looked pained.

“What is it?” I whispered, alarmed by his expression.

“It wasn’t him.” Tristan’s look was bleak, but I failed to grasp what he meant, and my puzzled expression gave me away.

“He wasn’t the bastard who fucking assaulted me. He’s seething about the injustice of the jury’s verdict.”

“No! Does he know who did?”

“I didn’t get a name. Just a face. No one I recognized.”

“Oh.”

“Quite.” Tristan scowled. “He’s looking at you.” He pointed his chin toward the front door, where Dylan stood watching me. He strode toward the car and opened the passenger door, sliding the seat forward so I could climb out.

“You stuck?” he asked.

“Something like that. House okay?”

“No. The utility room window is smashed. I’ll have to get it boarded this afternoon. Not sure I can get a glazier out on a bank holiday Monday. But that’s all. Nothing’s been taken as far as I can see. The police are sending a fingerprint technician over to see if they can find any prints.”

I glanced at Tristan.

“You could tell him it was Webster,” he murmured. “I’ll see you in your room.” He vanished.

I clambered out of the car. Dylan shut the car door behind me and collected his cricket bag and the cool box from the boot.

How could I tell him it was Pete? I had to come up with a plan that didn’t involve revealing Tristan’s existence.

Upstairs, Tristan was sprawled on my bed, his delicious scent filling the room.

“Those are bloody short shorts you’re wearing,” he said as soon as I walked into my room.

“That’s what Dylan said, and I ignored him too.”

Tristan’s mouth pressed into a mutinous line.