‘Of course not. But no one should find themselves homeless in a civilised society.’

‘Granted he didn’t have much of a start in life, but he’s hardly helping himself, is he? Sooner or later he’s going to end up in the nick, no matter how much help is thrown at him. Some people are too damaged to become functional adults.’

‘So we just wash our hands of them and lock them up?’ Geraldine replied angrily.

Ian shrugged. ‘Of course that’s not what anyone would want. All I’m saying is that there’s nothing we can do. We’re not social workers, Geraldine, and our job is to keep our streets safe so people can walk around without fear of being attacked. This boy threatened an old man with a knife. Members of the public should be able to feel safe anywhere, not just in their own homes.’

Geraldine sighed. Ian was right when he said there was nothing the police could do about the young man’s situation but pass him on to overstretched social services. It was a pity the council were cutting their funding for homeless shelters.

‘This is ridiculous,’ Ian grumbled later that evening, returning from the bathroom, a bottle of aftershave in his hand.

Geraldine looked at him, hiding her dismay behind a smile.

‘What is?’

‘This.’ He gesticulated, waving the bottle in front of his face.

‘What’s wrong with it? Haven’t you always used it?’

‘There’s nothing wrong with my aftershave. That’s not what I’m talking about. I’m complaining about living in two places at once. I can never remember where anything is. Now this bottle’s empty and I’ve not got any more here.’

Geraldine smiled. ‘I’m sure you can manage for today.’

‘For today?’ he repeated quizzically. ‘What about tomorrow? Or are you throwing me out?’

Geraldine frowned. She had been in love with her colleague, Ian, for years without disclosing her feelings. Now that Ian and his wife were finally getting divorced, and he had revealed that he reciprocated Geraldine’s feelings, he had begun spending the night at her flat. There was nothing stopping him from moving in with her, other than her reluctance to share her private space. She had not lived with anyone else since her early twenties, and was not sure how she would cope with having him there all the time.

‘You know that’s not what I meant,’ she replied. ‘I couldn’t throw you out.’

Ian tossed his empty bottle on to the bed and raised his hands, his fists clenched in an exaggerated boxing pose.

‘I’d like to see you try.’ He glared at her from beneath his lowered brows.

Geraldine laughed and he grunted in response.

‘What does that inarticulate noise mean?’ she demanded.