‘Right, let’s sit down and get this meal started,’ Ted said. They all helped bring dishes out and squeezed around the table. When he’d bought the small cottage, Ted hadn’t been expecting to entertain so many guests, but he wasn’t complaining. He brought a huge pot from the kitchen and they passed plates around, serving themselves with vegetables and rice. Quiet descended on the room.

‘This is lovely, Grandad,’ said Josie.

Kelly stared at her, and then at Johnny, who was looking at Josie with so much love and pride that she felt a tiny flinch of regret that she didn’t have a child of her own with this man.

Chapter 36

It was gone 9 p.m. when DC Emma Hide called Kelly on her mobile. She felt cosy on the sofa, surrounded by her family, after a wonderful meal and laughter to keep her soul light. Now, her stomach turned over. Emma would never disturb her if it was trivial.

Johnny and Ted looked at her simultaneously and knew what was coming.

‘Guv, Jackson Akers has just walked into the station with Tyrone Fenton.’

Kelly stood up and went into the kitchen.

‘What the hell?’

‘They’re in the interview suite. I thought you’d want to talk to them yourself. They’ve waived their right to a lawyer.’

‘Of course, thanks, Emma, I’ll be there in twenty minutes.’

She hung up.

‘I’m sorry, guys, I’ve got to go back to the office.’

‘How much have you drunk? Want me to take you?’ Johnny asked. He’d only had one glass of champagne and a beer.

‘Please.’

She hugged her father and everyone else in turn, promising to make this a regular occasion.

She was thankful for the opportunity to talk to Johnny in private.

‘It was good to see you relax for a couple of hours.’

‘It was lovely. I could do that every night of the week.’

‘No you couldn’t. You’d all fall out, like any family, and you’d get bored.’

She smiled, knowing that it was the fact that the evening was unusual that made it so special.

‘What’s up?’

‘Ormond basically threatened me again this afternoon.’

‘In what way?’

‘Pretty directly. He keeps reminding me that he chooses the SIO on a case, and his implication leaves me thinking that if I don’t do as he says, my career is in jeopardy.’

‘There’s only one reason to get rid of his best detective.’

‘Because if I really am that good, then I’ll unearth something he doesn’t want getting out.’

‘Have you found anything solid yet?’