‘Oh, what a lot of fuss for nothing,’ she said guiltily. ‘You should have told them to leave it till it clears up.’

‘Don’t be daft, you need looking after,’ he said, laying the blanket over her. ‘That better?’

‘Mmmm.’ She gave a weak nod and licked her cracked lips. ‘Don’t suppose you could get me some water, could you?’

‘Course I can.’

Frank turned to the sink and froze in horror. He hadn’t noticed the state of the place when he first came in, because his focus had been on Yvonne, but now he could see that the sink was piled high with dirty crockery, and the worktops were covered in dozens and dozens of cat-food tins – most of which still contained mouldy chunks of meat. Yet more rotten food festered in the numerous saucers and bowls that were scattered around the floor and ledges, and the contents of two overflowing litter trays were undoubtedly contributing to the stench he had suddenly become aware of.

‘Sorry about the mess,’ Yvonne said sheepishly.

‘It’s fine, love,’ Frank said, snapping himself out of it. ‘I was looking for a cup.’

‘Second cupboard,’ she said.

Shuddering when he opened the cupboard and saw a family of cockroaches run for cover, Frank grabbed a cup and quickly closed the door. He had to lift a stack of plates out of the sink to get at the tap so he could rinse the cup before filling it and carrying it over to Yvonne.

She craned her neck forward when he held it to her lips, and took a big gulp.

‘Thanks, pet. I was gasping.’

‘No problem. Let me know if you want any more.’

She nodded and closed her eyes, and Frank sat on a chair and watched her as she drifted in and out of sleep for the next forty minutes.

Relieved when, at last, he heard the distinctive sound of an approaching helicopter, he went outside. It was hovering low over the cottage, and he shielded his eyes to protect them from the ice and debris its blades were whipping up. Yvonne’s garden was a good half acre in size, but her late husband’s tractor and other rusted pieces of farming equipment were still standing where he’d left them, so the pilot was forced to land in the field beyond.

As the thunderous roar died down, Frank heard squeals coming from the far side of the garden. It was so long since he’d been here he’d forgotten that Yvonne kept pigs, and he wondered how she’d been managing to look after them when she was clearly struggling to take care of herself. Them, and the damn cats, which might well have started eating her if she’d been lying there for much longer.

Grimacing at the thought, Frank waved to the paramedics when they hopped out of the helicopter and climbed over the low fence.