PART 6

At two in the morning, with Tessa sleeping under observation, Brian and I sat at a table in the hospital family lounge and listed everything we knew.

It was an ugly list.

Harold had insisted on controlling Christmas arrangements.

He had brought the gift set himself in a sealed shopping bag and refused my offer to wrap it.

He had specifically urged Tessa to put the cream on her face.

He had left the property before we knew whether she would be all right.