No I’m not, here she comes, well done, Joanna. Do not let that giant baby bump stop you praying for the happy repose of Edith’s soul. Joanna sees me and nods, letting the cortège pass by before slipping into the bench beside me. Her hair is tied back from her face, her makeup only lightly applied. Joanna’s smile is her best feature. She can beam as if a light comes on inside her head. And she’s always in control. If you need anything done, Joanna is the woman to call, even now, even pregnant.

Resting her hand on the back of the bench she lowers herself into the seat then leans in close to whisper, ‘the cops were at the house this morning.’

‘What? Why?’

‘They wanted to speak to Danny.’

‘Danny? Why Danny?’ The toast in my stomach changes direction. What brought the cops to Danny’s house?

‘I’ll fill you in later.’

Joanna lifts her head to pay attention to the ceremony. I can’t concentrate, not now. I tried to keep the saga away from the family but Turner is not letting up. Why is she dragging them into it? It’s nothing to do with them.

‘What did they say?’ I ask, unable to wait for the ceremony to end before I ask.

‘Shush,’ Joanna hisses, making it clear that she is not going to have this conversation now. I’m going to have to sit here, listening to the priest tell us that this is how it was meant to be, that Edith has returned to God.

The ceremony feels like it has gone on for hours and yet when I look at my watch I have only been here twenty minutes. Hurry up, Father. Eventually the coffin is carried out of the church and into the fresh air. Bert looks even older and more wizened than before.

‘Everything was lovely, Bert. Edith would be happy.’

‘I hope so, Becca. I still can’t believe she’s gone.’

I give him a hug and drift away to the side of the churchyard, where Joanna is waiting.

‘Tell me,’ I say, edgy with nerves.

‘They called to the house just as Danny was about to leave. I was upstairs and looked over the bannisters. I saw Danny lead them into the kitchen. I don’t know what was said, but when they left Danny was in a weird mood, and the cops were carrying a bag they didn’t have when they came in. They must have taken something of his away with them. I asked him what they wanted and he said they were just doing some house calls in the area, asking if anyone saw anything suspicious the night that girl Katie Collins was murdered. He ignored me when I asked what was in the bag.’

I say nothing, but I know Joanna doesn’t believe him.