Sam’s focus snapped upwards, and he realised he was holding the photo. He smiled and carefully placed it back down.

‘Your wife?’ Sam offered as he gratefully accepted the warm mug.

‘She was.’ Leon glanced at the photo with sadness. ‘She passed on over a decade ago. Cancer.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Don’t be.’ Leon smiled at the photo with pride. ‘We had a wonderful life together.’

Sam shuffled awkwardly on the spot and then took a sip of his drink. The warm tea glided down his throat and he glanced around the room again. After a few awkward moments of silence, Leon spoke.

‘So, what is Alex Stone doing hanging around with a British soldier?’ Sam raised his eyebrow in surprise. ‘Oh, come on. I may be old, but these peepers still work. The way you carry yourself, the glances around your surroundings. Either you’re a soldier or a spy.’

‘Here I thought I was fitting in.’

‘Military?’ Leon asked, sipping his mug.

‘I was. Many years ago.’ Sam tried to ignore the painful memories of the career he had. ‘But I got out.’

‘Don’t blame ya.’ Leon shook his head. ‘Messy business, war. But you didn’t answer my question.’

Sam smiled. He liked Leon and appreciated the man’s hospitality and directness in equal measure.

‘How much do you know about Alex?’

The question took Leon by surprise and with a smirk, he scratched his chin in contemplation.

‘She’s a good kid. I’ve lived across the hall from them for years. Since she was a little one. Smart. Bright. But with a mother like that, she never stood a chance. I used to let Alex study at the table in the kitchen because her mum had guests round.’

‘Guests?’

‘Her mother is a drug addict, Jonathan. And she wasn’t exactly rolling in cash, if you get my drift. Soon, those visits lead to her shacking up with a drug dealer and she had two kids. Little Nattie and Joel. Nice kids. Smart, like Alex. Although their mum tried for a while to be a parent, she could never kick the habit. Once that scumbag left, she spiralled, and Alex stepped up. Working jobs. Doing what she could to give them a better chance than she ever did.’

‘Did you ever think about calling the cops?’

Leon scowled at Sam; his eyes widened with offence.