He shook his head. ‘She’s in here.’ He pointed to his chest. ‘I’m afraid you’re going to have to help me up, though.’

Kelly smiled and did as he requested. ‘I can’t get rid of anything yet.’

‘Good idea. It can’t be rushed.’

‘Thank you for coming with me.’

‘Not at all. You’re working hard – you always work hard – but you need to take care of yourself too. And him down there…’ he pointed to the floor. ‘He’s a good man, and he loves you, Kelly. I should know.’

She smiled. ‘I know. Come on, let’s go downstairs. Wait a minute, there was a photo on her dressing table… Look, here it is. That’s me, I must have been three months old. Would you like it?’

Ted looked at her and his mouth opened, but no words came out. It was something that Kelly was unfamiliar with: a pathologist being lost for words. At last he nodded.

‘Good.’ She walked out of the room and went downstairs to Johnny with a lighter heart. She reckoned she could leave now without regret, and she looked around for one last time. The keys would be handled by the estate agent and the packing company she’d spoken to had said they’d probably only need a day to get everything ready for storage.

She went to Johnny and allowed him to hold her. Ted came downstairs and she smiled at him over Johnny’s shoulder.

‘Can I drop you home, Ted?’ She was more than happy to drive him back to Keswick.

‘No, I’m seeing an old friend in Penrith; you can take me back into town. What are your plans?’

‘My colleague from London is on his way here. I don’t really know why he’s coming – I don’t need him here – but I’ve got to get back to work.’

They left the house and Kelly locked the door. She took a deep breath and they got back into the car. She still had no interest in her baguette.

After they’d dropped Ted back to the centre of town, Kelly delayed turning the engine back on. Johnny asked about her visiting colleague. Her heart rate elevated and she looked out of the window.

‘I would have thought he was better off in London, from what you’ve said. Is it normal for the Met to send coppers to the sticks?’

The phrase jolted her and she heard Matt’s voice.

‘I think he’s trying to wind me up. The thing is, we were seeing each other for a while, before I came here, before I met you…’ Her voice was nervy, but Johnny’s face showed no sign of change. She sensed herself blushing and her hands shook, even though they were gripping the wheel tightly.

‘And this week was the first time you’d seen him since?’

She nodded.