Jude considered her moral position. Technically, Tom Kendrick was not one of her clients. She had talked to him, at his mother’s request, and didn’t reckon she could help with whatever was wrong with him … if indeed there was anything wrong with him. Jeremiah, who had gone further into the therapeutic process, didn’t seem to be constrained by any confidentiality worries. So, there was no reason why she should discuss Tom with him.

‘I was rather in the same boat,’ she said. ‘Whatever he did need, I don’t think it was my kind of healing.’

‘Or mine. I thought he needed – to use a technical psychotherapeutic term – a kick up the backside.’ Jude giggled. ‘He seemed to me to be just a layabout – and nothing was going to change that situation, until his mother cuts off the very generous allowance she was giving him.’

‘I came to the same conclusion.’ A pause. ‘But why did you suddenly bring him up, Jeremiah?’

‘Because of his connection to Shefford’s.’

‘I didn’t know Tom Kendrick had a connection with Shefford’s.’

‘Oh yes. Amongst the many courses and things that his mother set up for him, he did spend some time working at the garage.’

‘I didn’t know that.’

‘Just on a casual basis. I think the idea was that, if it went well, it might be formalized into some kind of apprenticeship. But, needless to say, because it involved Tom Kendrick, it didn’t go well.’

‘Did he learn anything?’

‘A bit of basic mechanics, I gather. Bill Shefford had been very generous in taking him on. The Kendricks’ family cars were always serviced at the garage and she persuaded him to give the boy a chance.’

‘I can imagine.’ Jude had encountered too many women of Natalie Kendrick’s type to have any doubts about their powers of persuasion.

‘But, of course, Tom screwed up. After a couple of months, he was asked to leave.’

‘What for? Anything specific?’

‘I don’t think so. Just general inefficiency, turning up late, skiving, you name it. The customary behaviour of a layabout with a private income.’

‘Ah.’

‘Apparently, Bill Shefford was very upset by Tom’s behaviour. He’d bent over backwards to give the boy a chance, and he’d had his generosity thrown back in his face. According to what I heard, Bill Shefford was the mildest of men, never lost his temper, never even raised his voice. But when he finally sacked Tom Kendrick, there was a great shouting match.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes. In front of all the staff and customers, I gather.’

‘Who told you this?’

‘Tom himself. Well, his version was slightly different from what I’ve just told you. In his version, he’d done nothing wrong. He was just trying to do his job, but Bill Shefford kept picking on him. Tom was still clearly very angry.’

‘Was he?’

‘Yes. There was a lot of bad blood there.’

ELEVEN