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‘It depends how desperate she was, don’t you think?’

‘You didn’t know her, I did,’ she insisted stubbornly

‘She was your et that And I won’t go on, if you can’t take it’

‘Don’t patroni

se me,’ she warned ‘Tell me what you know You can’t stop now’

He stared at her for a long ti, as if he had to be sure she wouldn’t break down She nodded once, briskly, inviting him to explain

Another long pause, and then he said, ‘Did you know youraddict?’

She battled to suck air into lungs that had inexplicably closed ‘Don’t be ridiculous!’ she blurted at last ‘Don’t you think I’d have known, if that were the case?’

But she did know At least, she had suspected And had needed to hear it from someone else, someone as deeply involved Miss Francine had always protected Millie from the truth, and she loved her for it Khalid had done her another type of kindness by not dressing up the truth, and perhaps his was the greater gift, because he’d given her closure at last

‘How did you know?’ she asked, feeling the tension seep away as the last piece of the jigsaw settled into place Her fury at Khalid had been instantly replaced by deep sorrow for her mother

Taking hold of her hands, he brought them down from her face ‘I’m sorry,’ he said quietly ‘I think everyone must have known about your mother’s habit apart from you’

‘I think I knew,’ she whispered ‘I’d read rumours in the press, but I didn’t want to believe them She was always careful aroundme I needed to hear it Then’ She braced herself to voice the unspeakable ‘If my mother was the freak shoas I the support act? Did your brother ever speak to you of that?’

His intention was not to destroy Millie, but to try and lay her ghosts to rest His late brother would accept no restraint on his perversions Whatever Millie asked of him now, he had to edit the truth, or cause her endless pain ‘I didn’t know there was a party on board the Sapphire that night, until I arrived,’ he explained ‘And as for your reat artist to fall foul of ruthless and unscrupulous drug dealers’

‘But that doesn’t explain her death,’ Millie said, frowning

He wasn’t about to explain that he’d chased herdealer into the arms of the police, and had been dockside when Roxy’s body was fished out of the harbour He’d checked to see if there was a pulse, and had seen the sapphires spilling over the top of her dress He’d retrieved them before he was asked to stand back, so at least she could never be branded a thief

‘Did she fall or was she pushed?’

Millie’s voice was hoarse, and her face was pale and strained She deserved an honest answer, and at least he could give her this ‘The dealer pushed her into the water’

Over her gasp, he told her the rest of it—or his interpretation of what uessed Roxy had tried to pay the man for her fix in sapphires, which the dealer would assuuessed that hen he lost his teht The Sapphire was a huge vessel, so by the ti the authorities as he ran, he was too late to save Millie’s mother

‘You saw this happen,’ she stated tensely, ‘so you atching her all along’

‘I witnessed so,’ he said honestly ‘I was too far away to see clearly, and when I arrived at the scene it was dark and the water was black’

‘But you called the authorities, so you ’

‘I heard a scream That hat attractedup It was only a few seconds later when I realised it wasn’t a game, and by then it was too late’

‘I asked you to go back to save her,’ Millie said quietly All her frustration and grief collided ‘You bastard!’ she exclai herself at hi you’re not telling me I know it—I know it!’

Catching hold of her, he held her still ‘It’s over, Millie It’s over now’

As she fought hiainst him, he wished he could doin his very near future he would not make any false proer burned out, and when it did, and she sluainst him, completely spent, he let her sob

He waited until she was quiet again, and then tipped up her chin ‘Where are you taking me?’ she asked as he took hold of her hand

‘To bed—’

‘Are you o of me!’