‘That’s the spirit! Now, we just wanted to come to explain that there’s nothing to worry about. You don’t say anything, to anybody, ever, all right? If you really have to – if push comes to shove, say, and the police start asking questions, you just say that you left the party, and Jasper here drove you to your aunt’s place and left you at the doorstep.’

Patsy eyed Jasper warily. ‘All right,’ she agreed reluctantly. ‘But the police won’t ask, will they?’ she asked in real alarm.

‘I don’t see why they should,’ Juliet said crisply. ‘Why would they? It was just a road smash. It’s sad and tragic and all that, but nothing they’ll be interested in. Just keep your head down, don’t volunteer information, and don’t talk about it to anybody. Not your mum or granddad or anyone, OK?’

Jasper, taking his cue, reached into his jacket and pulled out his wallet. He extracted all the paper money he had and thrust it at Patsy.

‘What’s this for?’ Patsy asked, shying away from it, and him, like a nervous horse.

‘It’s just for your trouble,’ Juliet said soothingly. ‘We know things haven’t worked out as we hoped, but that doesn’t mean you should lose by it. And we’re grateful you were willing to try and help us out in the first place. And we feel a bit guilty you had to go through all that you did. Take it and buy yourself something nice – but be careful not to let your mum find it. She’ll wonder where you got so much cash.’

Patsy reached out a half-frozen hand and accepted the money wonderingly. There was so much there, she could buy herself a whole new wardrobe! And some make-up, and perfume, and that new handbag she’d spotted in …

‘Don’t spend it all at once,’ Jasper snarled, and she blinked, then nodded wisely.

‘Of course I won’t,’ she said. ‘I’m not stupid, you know!’

‘Of course you’re not,’ Juliet agreed, giving her a pat on the back. ‘You take care now. And remember – say absolutely nothing about this, or what we were going to do, to anyone.’

‘I won’t,’ Patsy promised.

She turned and hurried back up the path. When she got to the door and looked back, she was relieved to see that they’d already disappeared into the darkness.

She carefully tucked the money deep into the pocket of her coat and slipped inside. She then went straight upstairs to her bedroom and hid the money in her secret hiding place, before she sat on her bed, rocking slightly back and forth.

‘No, I’m not stupid,’ she muttered resentfully to herself. ‘No matter what people might think.’

She glanced out of the window, seeing only her own tight and unhappy face reflected back at her.