“For goodness’ sake, woman, it’s only a couple of chops.” Edna begins forcing Lily’s arms into the sleeves of a coat she hardly needs in this weather. “Look, just do your best. And take your time. It’s a nice afternoon; you ought to make the most of it. Why don’t you go down to the river and get some fresh air for a change? You could take that bread for the ducks.”

“But that’s what I—”

“Oh, Lillian, do stop fussing and get a move on!”

Before she knows it, Lily finds herself ushered out of the house and down the path. She glances back to see Edna watching her from the gate. Edna raises a hand in farewell and Lily follows suit. As she turns down the path toward the road a thought occurs to her. If she didn’t know better, she might almost think Edna was trying to get rid of her.

—

He drives with Doggett studiously ignoring him from the passenger seat, apart from occasional flinches at nonexistent near misses, or the odd mumble about the merits of the advanced driving course. No further mention is made of his relationship to the DCI.

Diane Jordan has been in Tyler’s life longer than he can remember. Longer, in fact. Godmother is understating it slightly; there were times when she was more of a mother to him and his brother than anyone else. Not that she had much to compete with. Jordan and his father were colleagues first, then partners, then friends, and, finally—if their mother was to be believed—more than friends. But then, their mother accused Richard of having affairs with just about every woman he ever came into contact with, so she was hardly the most reliable source. If he was having any affairs, neither Tyler nor his brother knew about them. Then again, why would they?