A passer-by slowed down to stare at her strangely and she made a rude sign, laughing loudly when he jerked away in shock and hurried off.

She stopped to pop another mint into her mouth. You couldn’t be too careful.

Jez Winter’s house was the largest in the street and was protected by high old-fashioned walls, topped with broken glass. Heavy metal gates barred the drive. There was a sign on the wall which read, these premises are under security surveillance. please ring for admittance.

Well, no one was going to keep her out, because they might not let her even see Tom. She’d have to take care how she got in, couldn’t afford to mess it up. It might be her last chance to set things right with him.

She walked on past the house, stopping to study the garden of the one next door, a smaller place, but still much larger than any house she’d ever lived in. It too had a high wall in front, but a modern brick one and no broken glass on top. There was an iron gate with a security sign on it and a buzzer. How the hell was she going to get inside if they were all like this?

As if in answer to her prayers, a taxi came along and stopped at the gates. She moved casually past then stopped. The driver wound down his window and pressed the buzzer, speaking to someone at the house.

Gail crept nearer, hiding behind a huge tree growing at the edge of the footpath.

A minute later the gate started to slide back and the taxi moved slowly forward. Bending low, she ran after it into the garden and dived into some nearby bushes, breaking branches and making a loud rustling, cracking sound. She lay still, waiting to see if anyone had noticed her, but the taxi stopped at the front door, someone got in and then it drove away.

No one came looking for an intruder. Ignoring the branches poking into her, she lay back and laughed softly to herself.

I’m too clever for you, Tom Prichard! What a surprise you’re going to get!

Tom felt anxious all day. He couldn’t concentrate on anything, kept wondering what Gail was doing, where she was now. And then he had to check on the children again, just to be sure they were safe.

He noticed that Jez looked particularly happy, but didn’t ask, because he couldn’t stop thinking about Gail. He might not want to be married to her, but he didn’t want her to come to any harm, and she’d not only had a car accident but was in trouble with the police. What would she do next? Surely she’d not harm herself?

His mother rang up in the evening to ask if there was any news but he had to tell her no.

‘She’ll be coming to see you, Tom. I’m sure of it.’

‘Why do you say that?’

‘Because every time we were with her, she talked about you, was sure you’d get back together, blamed her drinking on you, for leaving her.’