‘I probably deserved all I got, working at a place like that.’ She tried to laugh but it sounded more like a sob.

‘No one deserves that sort of treatment,’ Peter said quietly.

Andi shook her head blindly and huddled down in her chair, avoiding everyone’s eyes.

He exchanged sad glances with Sophie, then looked round the room and got back to business. ‘I can keep you informed of anything I find out. Perhaps you’d do the same for me?’

‘Do that. And do you have a card, some number where I can contact you directly?’ Kevin asked.

Peter fumbled in his inner pocket and fished out a business card. ‘This is a private number, not for public consumption.’ He stood up. ‘I’ll leave now. Look, I wanted to bring you flowers, Sophie and Andi, because you’re the sort of women men do that to, but they made a good cover for my visit as well, too. Will you walk with me to the door, Sophie, to lend credibility to that?’

When they got there, he smiled at her, wishing she was looking at him the way she’d looked at Jez. ‘Could you come outside and be seen saying goodbye? Maybe even kiss my cheek? Just in case there’s someone watching?’

‘Of course.’ She stood waving as he drove off.

He turned his mind firmly to Talbin. He was determined to find out what was going on.

‘Why don’t you and Andi come across with us?’ Jez asked. ‘You can see the progress, Sophie, and you’ve never even seen the house, Andi. My housekeeper makes little snacks for this time of day. Don’s a wonderful cook. So’s his partner, who’s working on the garden.’

‘Yes, do come!’ Tom urged. ‘You can meet my children.’

Sophie looked questioningly at Andi. It would certainly be a relief to get out of this house for a while. If her own meditating had made ‘stone tapes’ in one room and given it a tranquil feel, her daughter’s pain was filling the rest of the house with a distinctly depressed atmosphere. She saw Andi’s scowl lighten just a little at the mention of children and was pleased that she was interested enough to ask how old they were.

‘Hayley’s four, almost five, and Ryan’s two.’ Tom gave them all an embarrassed smile. ‘Of course I think they’re great kids.’

‘They are,’ Jez said at once.

Andi hesitated. ‘Well … why not? Is that all right with you, Mum?’

Sophie nodded, hoping no one had noticed her sigh of relief but Jez winked at her and she knew he’d picked up on her feelings. Again.

Kevin led the way, stopping to lock the gate behind them. Donna and Tom went on ahead, chatting to Andi.

Jez and Sophie let Kevin overtake them.

‘I’m missing you,’ he said.

‘It’s only been a day or two.’

‘Nonetheless.’ He took her hand and she let him, but pulled hers away before they joined the others at the door, not wanting to upset Andi.