‘What, like a proper job?’ she asked, looking at her rear in the mirror.

‘I love it. Is it warm?’

‘Style over comfort, Ted. It’s what it looks like. So?’

‘Wonderful. You look fabulous, but I’m a little worried that you might get too much attention.’

‘Let’s get this one.’

They grinned at each other. ‘What’s your job? I know you work with Kelly sometimes, are you a police doctor or something?’ She went back into the small cubicle and he held hangers and odds and ends, waiting for her.

‘I’m a pathologist.’

She came out, fastening her jumper and tidying her hair. The ski clothes were on the floor. Ted went to pick them up. None of his girls had children, and he was coming to realise that he wished they had.

‘Is that someone who deals with mental health?’ she asked.

‘No. That’s a psychotherapist.’

‘Oh.’

‘I find out why people die.’

She screwed her face. ‘Ugh. That’s grim.’

‘Not really. As long as you’re not offended by that sort of thing. A body is just a bunch of human cells that can work properly or not. It’s my job to make sure we understand why things go wrong.’

‘So why do you work with Kelly?’

‘Because I also find out how people are killed.’

‘Like murdered?’ Her eyes widened, and her face lit up.

‘Yes.’

‘That is so cool. Are you the one who cuts them up and saws their chest open?’

‘Yes. Shhh, there are other people in here.’ He tried to lessen her excitement. It wasn’t the kind of conversation one might expect in a climbing shop, especially when there had been two killings reported in the area in as many weeks. People were jumpy. It reminded him of when The Teacher was at large. It changed people’s behaviour; they became nervous and careful. He thought briefly of Kelly and hoped she knew what she was doing, going to pay the murderer a visit; he didn’t think it wise.

‘Can I watch one day? If I study criminology at university that includes a module on Crime Scene Investigation. Do you work with CSI?’

‘Yes. They process the scene, along with forensic examiners, and I bring it all together. With Kelly of course.’

‘She’s so clever.’ It was touching to hear Josie’s view of his daughter. He couldn’t agree more, he just wished Kelly could hear it herself. She’d never believe that this young lady admired her so much. Teenagers were highly underestimated in his opinion: they didn’t miss a thing.

‘So are we taking these? Don’t you need jumpers and gloves and other bits and pieces?’ he asked, standing in the waiting area, like Josie’s personal assistant. She went to him and put her arms around him, and squeezed.

‘Thank you.’ It was very simple but Ted felt overcome and had to look away.