‘Dr Cummings isn’t,’ offered Erica, tilting her head in the direction of the fat, grey-haired man sitting in the far corner of the restaurant. A Chinese gentleman sat opposite him, nodding as the doctor spoke softly.

‘Adding this lot to his list of patients is he?’ asked Tiger with an edge to his voice.

‘You don’t like him do you?’

‘Not much. Not since he gave Christopher the push.’

‘It must have been difficult for him.’

‘He should have been a bit more understanding. As if Christopher hadn’t been through enough. Anyway, he’s far too fat for a doctor. And short tempered.’

Their conversation was curtailed by the return of the waitress bearing a small lacquer tray on which were unidentifiable Chinese canapés. She laid it down on their table with a neat bow, and asked what they would like to drink.

Tiger was about to suggest two halves of lager when Erica cut in and asked for a bottle of chilled Sancerre. The waitress bowed once more, smiled and went off in the direction of the kitchen, returning only moments later with the bottle, pleasingly coated with condensation, and two shapely glasses.

Only four tables were occupied, out of a total of around twenty. ‘A bit quiet,’ said Tiger, looking around.

‘Oh, it’s early yet. I expect most folk come at around half past eight.’

Erica was not wrong. Within ten minutes a steady trickle of diners had arrived and the restaurant began to fill up. At eight thirty-five Tiger said, ‘Good God!’

‘What?’

‘Look over there.’

Erica turned in the direction of Tiger’s gaze and saw Gary Flynn being shown to a table, along with a slim, dark-haired girl.

Tiger said, with a little too much interest for Erica’s liking, ‘Who on earth is that?’

‘It’s Gary,’ said Erica flatly.

‘I know that. But who’s he with?’

‘You could always go and ask him,’ said Erica, popping one of the hors d’oeuvres into her mouth and giving Tiger a withering look.

‘I’d better say hello, or he’ll only tell me off later.’

Before Erica could waylay him with a restraining arm, Tiger had risen from the table. He walked across to where Gary and Sarah were seated and said, ‘Are you trying it out as well then?’

He was rather disappointed at Gary’s reaction. If he hadn’t known better he’d have said that Gary wasn’t pleased to see him. In fact he was positively offhand.

‘Hi. Yes. Thought we’d give it a try.’ He spoke softly and without any apparent enthusiasm.

Tiger turned to Sarah. ‘Hi! I’m Tiger, Gary’s mate.’ He offered his hand.

Sarah shook it and smiled, darting a look across at Gary as she did so.

Tiger read the signals. ‘Sorry. Didn’t want to muscle in. Just thought I’d better say hello. You know.’