Grace could feel a rivulet of sweat snaking a path down her back. There’s no way she’d make it all the way to Heathrow on her own. No way. In her addled state, she instantly wondered if Jamie was working today and, if not, if he might come with her. It was worth asking. But she knew in reality she was clutching at straws – a decision had to be made right this very second as Ellis was waiting on the other end of the phone that was trembling slightly in her left hand.

‘Oh, don’t be daft, Larry.’ It was Betty who stepped in to save Grace. ‘She doesn’t want to be trekking all the way across London on the tube now in this hot weather, do you, love? Besides, she needs to get on and catalogue the rest of all the items in Mrs Donato’s unit,’ and she gave Grace a look of motherly concern. ‘No, Grace, tell Ellis to get a black cab straight here. Our treat! Larry will scoot out when it arrives and pay the bill, won’t you, dear?’ Larry swivelled his head from Betty to Grace and back again before mumbling something about money trees. ‘Ellis doesn’t want to be bothering with going to cash machines and all that,’ Betty finished, and that was that, the decision was made.

After politely conveying Betty’s instructions to Ellis, Grace ended the call, surreptitiously wiping the phone on the side of her skirt before handing it back to Larry.

‘Well, this is going to be a nice surprise,’ Betty chuckled, gently patting Grace on the back as she went into the little kitchenette area to put the kettle on.

‘I wasn’t expecting him to drop everything and come rushing over here when I emailed the pictures to him,’ Larry said, looking concerned. ‘He’s very busy and I don’t want to get him into trouble at work by taking time off to come and look at some paintings that probably aren’t even worth tuppence ha’penny.’

‘But he isn’t rushing over here just because you sent the pictures, you silly old fool,’ Betty chuckled. ‘No, he has some business to attend to in Europe.’

‘Europe? Where in Europe?’ Larry puffed, straightening his jacket. ‘And why didn’t he let us know he was coming?’