Page 30 of A Clean Sweep

Celeste realised she'd been holding her breath.

She exhaled loudly then typed in the passcode.

Up popped all the colourful icons, including the one they now shared with their his and hers fitness bands.

She pushed away her feelings of guilt, reasoning that she was just curious about how many steps he managed on a regular basis.

She touched the icon and looked at bright orange wedge which displayed his grand total for today.

4,927. That didn't seem a lot considering he'd been out walking now for several hours.

She scrolled back through the preceding days.

A couple around the 8,000 mark, one at almost 11,500 – that was the day they'd hit the big shopping mall on the outskirts of town.

She'd certainly felt like they'd covered a lot of ground that day.

But it had been well worth it, garnering her a few new outfits and a set of golf clubs for Michael.

Maybe the phone and band had to be in close proximity to record the steps?

No, she was pretty sure that wasn't the case.

When was his last epic walkabout? She racked her brains.

It was the day she'd chatted to Emily about the chimney episode.

Exactly one week ago. She located the relevant date with the backwards arrow.

3,072 steps. That simply didn't make sense. Unless …

Celeste sat down hastily on the sofa, still clutching Michael's phone.

Her heart was beating too fast, to the point she felt sure her band would start vibrating and flashing to warn of imminent cardiac arrest. There had to be a reasonable explanation, she told herself.

Perhaps the band had come loose – Paul had told her they were sometimes prone to undoing themselves, although usually during the night if the wearer tossed and turned a lot – and he'd forgotten to put it back on.

She thought this unlikely, however, given his dedication to the bloody thing.

Maybe it was faulty, but she dismissed this possibility instantly.

Michael would have noticed the discrepancy in the step count and been down the shop to have a word with the ever so obliging Paul.

No, there was really only one answer that added up.

Michael had been doing considerably less walking than he claimed.

Which begged the question, what had he been doing instead?

Just as Celeste was thinking the unthinkable, she heard the front door open then slam shut. She hastily shoved his phone back under the newspaper, pasting on a broad smile as Michael entered the room.

'Hello, sweetheart. How are things? Sorry I was gone so long, decided to try a new route and got a bit lost so it added a bit to my schedule.

Never mind, at least I'll have a pretty decent step total to add to my tally!

' Michael beamed back at her, exuding rude health and the demeanour of someone with absolutely nothing to hide.

Except, Celeste knew that something was amiss but was struggling to accept that Michael – her lovely, dependable, faithful Michael – might be hiding something from her. Something, or someone .

'I'm fine, darling, just been pottering around here.

Oh, and I decided if you can't beat them, join them so I bought this.

' Celeste thrust out her wrist, watching Michael's reaction at her new purchase.

'I know I need to get more exercise so now we have matching fitness bands and I fully intend to move more and get in shape. Maybe we can start walking together!'

Was it her overwrought imagination or did Michael pale slightly at this suggestion? If so, he quickly regained his composure and gave her a kiss on the cheek. As he bent down to do so, he spotted his phone peeking out from under The Times . He picked it up, looking abashed.

'I didn't even realise I'd forgotten this today.

Goes to show how walking focuses the mind, clears away all the clutter of technology and those interminable beeps and pings signalling someone is after you for something.

The only satisfying noise I want to hear these days is when this clever toy – he gestured to his band – tells me I've reached the magical 10,000! '

Which clearly hasn't happened recently, aside from their shopping expedition. She was still struggling to come up with a reasonable explanation, batting away dark thoughts of treachery and deceit as they crowded her brain.

'I expect it must have produced a fanfare today, you've been gone for ages!

I had visions of you slumped over somewhere.

In fact, I was about to call you but that wouldn't have done much good, would it?

' she said, nodding at his phone. Although maybe he wouldn't have answered it anyway, not if he was indeed in a horizontal position, blood pumping through his veins as he…

Stop, Celeste. She had absolutely no proof that Michael was up to anything underhand.

But if the numbers weren't lying then he was. She just had to find out why.

Michael had retreated to his study, telling Celeste he had some paperwork to deal with and the promise of dinner out that evening.

He'd been taken aback by her surprise purchase, even more so at the suggestion they become fitness band buddies.

Of course, there were days when he genuinely went walking.

He liked stepping out in the fresh air, each mile covered clearing away the mental clutter of day to day life.

But many of his alleged outings in recent weeks had been to meet up with Sophie and that was something he simply could not share with his wife.

He could not even begin to imagine her reaction if she learned of their secret assignations.

They had always been honest with each other; it would be like lobbing a hand grenade into their relationship.

And he was far from sure it would survive the explosion.

Not to mention the fact that Sophie loathed Celeste and blamed her – at least partly – for his decision to keep his distance all those years.

Which he didn't think was entirely fair.

No, he was the one who should have stood firm and insisted on seeing his only child.

Celeste might not have been happy about it but it would have been the right thing to do.

And given time she maybe, just maybe, would have grown fond of Sophie too.

It wasn't as if she detested children – she'd always been fond of her niece, Tabitha, in a detached kind of way – she simply didn't have a maternal bone in her body.

And Sophie was painfully accurate when she described him as weak and spineless.

Whereas she at least was trying to mend some bridges even if they seemed beyond repair at times.

Michael could feel the beginning of a headache spreading across his temples.

He didn't have the faintest idea what to do for the best. All he knew was that he had to keep seeing Sophie and her boys.

And try to figure out a way to prevent his rock-solid marriage from crumbling apart.

He could start by taking Celeste to her favourite restaurant and generating some enthusiasm about her newfound zest for pounding the pavements.

Mind you, he'd believe it when he saw it.

She had a positive allergy to exercise and would hop in the car just to pop to the corner shop.

Getting wearily to his feet, he made his way upstairs for a shower, shave and a couple of paracetamol.

'So, when are we going to go on our first walk together?

Not that we haven't walked together before, of course.

I just mean now that we both have bands and can see how we're each getting on.

It says on the app that there's nothing like a bit of support to spur you on.

We can add each other as friends and track our progress. It'll be fun!'

Michael had just speared a garlic butter-oozing escargot into his mouth and narrowly avoided spitting it back out.

How to dodge this bullet and come out alive, he wondered.

He wasn't sure Sophie would be overly keen if he suggested they started taking long walks together.

They generally met in unassuming little cafés, as far away as possible from potential prying eyes and wagging tongues.

'That's a sweet idea, my darling but it smacks a little of a competition and that's not how I see the band, for me at least. Of course, we can go for walks together but I don't really see the need to compare notes on who took the most steps or had the deepest sleep.

Anyway, my ego would be deeply wounded if you racked up more steps than me!

' Michael hoped his response came across as convincing and not too callous.

Judging by the way Celeste's eyes narrowed and she savagely speared an olive with positive venom he feared not.

As she popped it into her mouth her expression lightened and she smiled.

‘OK, it was a silly idea. Forget I even mentioned it.

It will be enough if we get to spend more time together and perhaps it'll help me shed a pound or two.

Although I don't think there's much danger of me overtaking you in the stepping stakes!

' Celeste dabbed at her mouth with her napkin, reaching across to squeeze Michael's hand.

'Still, I'm going to drop by the sports shop again and treat myself to some new trainers.

Can't be getting into this fitness malarkey without the proper shoes, can I?

What do you suggest, sweetheart? In terms of brand, I mean. Aren't Badedas meant to be good?’

Back home and Michael bid Celeste goodnight, citing fatigue after his long walk combined with a slap-up meal and a half-bottle of decent plonk. She'd pecked him on the lips, assured him she'd be up just as soon as she'd checked her emails.

She booted up her laptop but had no interest in the latest offers from M&S or John Lewis.

She just needed a little quiet time to contemplate her next course of action.

A trip to see Paul and get herself kitted out with appropriate footwear was a given.

Maybe some comfy jogging bottoms too, and an all-weather lightweight jacket.

Then she'd wait until Michael announced he planned a solo walking outing.

Which she had no doubt he would, very soon.

Except, this time Celeste would – quite literally – be following in his footsteps.