He frowned. Fleming – Jean Fleming. He shook his head and his ugly face split into a smile of quite devastating charm that was one of his most useful assets. ‘I must be getting old.’

‘I’m Bella Garvald’s sister.’

As if she had said some magic word, it all dropped neatly into place. Ben Garvald and the Steel Amalgamated hoist. Eight no, nine years ago. His first big case as a Chief Inspector. His mind jumped back to the house in Khyber Street, to Bella Garvald and her young sister.

‘You’ve changed,’ he said. ‘As I remember, you were still at the Grammar School waiting to go to college. What was it you wanted to be – a school-teacher?’

‘I am,’ she said.

‘Here in the city?’

She nodded. ‘Oakdene Preparatory.’

‘Miss Van Heflin’s old school? That was on my first beat when I was a young copper. Is she still active? She must be at least seventy.’

‘She retired two years ago,’ Jean Fleming said. ‘It’s mine now.’

She was unable to keep a slight edge of pride from her voice and her northern accent became more pronounced.

‘A long way from Khyber Street,’ Grant said. ‘And how’s Bella?’

‘She divorced Ben not long after he went to prison. Married again last year.’

‘I remember now. Harry Faulkner. She did all right for herself there.’

‘That’s right,’ Jean Fleming said calmly. ‘And I don’t want anything to spoil it for her.’

‘Such as?’

‘Ben,’ she said. ‘He was released yesterday.’

‘You’re sure?’

‘With all his remission it would have been last year, but he lost time for breaking from a working party at Dartmoor some years ago.’

Grant blew smoke up to the ceiling. ‘You think he’ll make trouble?’

‘He was difficult about the divorce. That’s why he tried to break out when he did. Told Bella he’d never let her go to anyone else.’

‘Did she ever visit him again?’

Jean Fleming shook her head. ‘There wasn’t any point. I went to see him last year when she and Harry got together. I told Ben that she was remarrying, that there was no point in ever trying to contact her again.’

‘What was his reaction?’

‘He was furious. Wanted to know who it was, but I refused to tell him. He swore he’d run her down when he got out.’

‘Does Faulkner know about all this?’

She nodded. ‘Yes, but he doesn’t seem particularly bothered. He thinks Ben will never dare show his face here again.’

‘He’s probably right.’

She shook her head. ‘Bella got a letter a few days ago. More a note, really. It just said, See you soon – Ben.’

‘Has she shown it to her husband?’