When Jude got back to Woodside Cottage, there was a message on the landline from Carole. Everyone else of her acquaintance would have called her mobile. Carole was worried about Gulliver’s cough and had got an appointment for him with the vet in Fedborough. She’d be back some time after five.

Then Jude rang Shannon Shefford, who once again sounded harassed.

‘I just wanted to ask how your mum is.’

‘Weaker still, I’m afraid. She had a bad night.’

‘I’m sorry. Incidentally, I met someone today who was asking after her.’ Another entirely permissible finessing of the truth.

‘Oh? Who?’

‘Red, the fisherman.’

‘Right. Used to be great mates with Bill … until Malee poisoned that relationship.’

Jude now knew that was inaccurate but it wasn’t the moment to take issue. ‘So, sorry, Shannon, you were saying Rhona had a bad night …’

‘Yes. I was up trying to settle her for hours. And her mind’s wandering. She keeps talking about things that happened a long time ago and then getting very angry and shouting about people who’ve never done her any harm.’

It wasn’t the moment to say it, but this news did actually make Jude feel better about the way, at their last meeting, Rhona had ripped into her and the whole healing profession.

‘Shannon, I was just remembering something you said to me, you know, when you first got in touch.’

‘Oh?’

‘When you asked me if I thought healing would help your mum.’

‘I knew it would. And it has done. I’ve always been a great believer in alternative therapies. I’d recommend them to anyone.’

‘Yes. I was wondering … did you ever recommend them to your father-in-law?’

‘Bill? I could’ve recommended what I liked to him, but he’d never listen.’

‘Did he ever say to you that he wasn’t feeling well?’

‘No. He wasn’t that sort. He was of the generation that kept things to themselves. He’d never have talked about his health worries to anyone – and certainly not me.’

‘Did you notice any change in his health over the last … I don’t know, the last year, say?’

‘I noticed a change in him. I don’t know that I’d say it was his health. You have to remember I wasn’t seeing much of him round then. Hadn’t seen much of him since he married that woman.’

‘No. But when you say he changed … in what way?’

‘He just seemed to get a bit gloomy and preoccupied.’

‘And when did this happen?’

‘I suppose in the autumn.’ Check, thought Jude.

‘And what did you think was wrong with him?’

‘Nothing physical. Well, he used to get indigestion a lot, but I think that was just because he ate so many meals on the go, you know, at the garage. Not stopping, just cramming a sandwich or a piece of pizza into his mouth.’