‘But that’s not what happened?’

‘No.’

‘So what did?’

Thomas shot Robin a pained look. ‘Again, we don’t know the details yet but we believe that Staverton killed him, too.’

Lennie leaned back against the pillows. She looked at her hands on the blanket and a tear ran down her cheek.

Robin couldn’t bear it. ‘But love, what I haven’t told you yet – Peter’s getting better.’

Lennie made a crooning sound, beyond words, pure grief. ‘But he’ll be an orphan, won’t he?’ she said. ‘Both of his parents are dead.’

The doctor was held up. There’d been an accident, two seriously injured. They’d heard the paramedics bringing them in, urgent voices. Not for them, Robin thought guiltily, not today.

‘Can I have a cup of tea? While we wait? My mouth’s really dry.’

‘Of course, love. I’ll go and get some. Give Gran a cuddle while I’m gone – she needs one, too.’

The café was closed but a porter directed her to a bank of vending machines a couple of minutes away. She walked as if on air: Lennie was safe, back from the edge of the void, safe.

When she rounded the corner on her return, Samir was standing at the department entrance. His head was bent, his hands in his trouser pockets. His cheeks were dark with stubble. On days when he had somewhere to be in the evenings, she remembered suddenly, he’d used to shave twice a day.

As she approached, he looked up and saw her. ‘I was just on my way to the station,’ he said. ‘I wanted to drop in, see if she was okay.’

‘She is. Traumatized, of course, but physically … Come – come and see her. She’s awake. This is for her.’ She nodded at the cup that was burning her fingers.

‘I just have. I saw her, and your parents. I was on my way out.’

They stood aside for a nurse wheeling a blood-pressure monitor. For a few seconds afterwards, neither of them spoke.

‘Well,’ he said. ‘I’d better get going. Don’t stay too long if you can help it. Get home and get some sleep – you need to.’

‘Samir.’ She looked at him, meeting his eye with the usual charge of recognition. ‘Thank you.’ She hesitated then stepped forward and hugged him. His chest felt different under her arms, bigger, more solid, but the smell of him was unchanged, clean and warm, with an earthy, sensual note that she’d never been able to describe. After a moment, he put his arms around her.

‘She’s everything to me,’ she said into the grey wool of his lapel.

‘I know.’

When she moved away again, he was looking at her, his face serious.

‘What are you going to do?’ she said.

‘What?’

‘About what I told you. Josh – back then.’

‘He’s dead, Rob. There is nothing to do.’

‘And me?’