Dr Silverwood cleared his throat. ‘Not at all sure I understand, Christopher. Things going on. Things I can’t really believe. Perhaps I’m mistaken. Confused.’

Christopher spoke seriously. ‘Reggie, do you want to talk?’

‘Not sure I should.’

‘I think you can to me. Why don’t you come round for a drink? What about tonight?’

‘Oh, I’m not sure…’ murmured Reggie.

‘It would be nice to see you.’ Christopher played a card that he thought might work on a man who had devoted his life to the well-being of others. ‘And anyway, the evenings are rather long for me now, being on my own. It would be good to see you. Cheer me up a bit.’

Reggie took the bait. ‘Well, I suppose I could drop in for a quick one. See how you are. What time would suit?’

Christopher looked at his watch. ‘Say half past seven? I finish here at six and that will give me time to get home and light a fire. Stay for supper if you want.’ He knew the invitation would be declined, but he wanted to make the offer all the same.

‘Oh, no. I won’t put you to all that trouble. A glass of Scotch will do nicely. Then I’ll be off home to Betty.’

‘OK Reggie. I’ll see you at half past seven.’

Chapter 10

Actions receive their tincture from the times,

And as they change are virtues made or crimes.

‘A Hymn to the Pillory’, Daniel Defoe, 1660–1731

In the same way that toast always lands butter-side down, and the wine bottle is always empty when you fancy just one more glass, so family disasters invariably happen when one of you is away from home.

‘Did you call the police?’ Tiger asked.

Erica assured him that the police had been and gone, convinced, once more, that it was drunken yobs who had put a brick through her shop window.

‘And you know it was a brick?’

‘It was there among the books. Thank God the window has a secure barrier at the back of it otherwise the place would have been open and anyone could have got in.’

‘But didn’t the alarm go off?’ he asked.

Erica spoke softly. ‘Brian forgot to set it. I was playing tennis and I left him to lock up.’

‘Oh, God! Didn’t you drill it into him? Especially after Isobel’s window being smashed.’

‘Tiger, he is a grown man. And he’s not our child. I can’t treat him like an imbecile.’

‘That’s clearly what he is.’ Tiger was angry. Not only at Brian’s apparent stupidity, but also because of the fact that he was distanced from the action. Unable to help. Unable to take charge.

‘There’s no need to have a go at me,’ Erica said, wounded by his tone.

‘I just can’t see how he could have been so daft, that’s all.’