‘Which team?’ Michael asked. ‘Who’s in charge?’

‘Joelle Levy. Major Investigation Team One from Scotland Yard.’

‘They’re taking this seriously, then.’

‘You know that team?’

‘I know Levy. I’ve cross-examined her.’ Michael’s career had included many major cases. In that time he had encountered most of London’s top cops. ‘She’s good. Formidable.’

‘She seemed fairly reasonable to me,’ Sarah observed. ‘None of the uncooperative crap we sometimes have to deal with.’

‘Just stay on her good side,’ Michael advised. ‘You won’t want to see the bad one.’

Sarah nodded. ‘I’ll make sure and stay friendly.’ She squeezed Michael’s hand as she spoke. Nothing more needed to be said on the subject.

A comfortable silence fell between them all. Michael took another long taste of his beer and sat back into his chair, enjoying a light, warm breeze that had grown out of nowhere. Sarah did the same, only to see the small sip she had taken from her wine glass replaced by far more from the bottle now in Anne’s hand. What was left was then poured into Anne’s now-empty glass, before she climbed to her feet and headed towards the kitchen.

‘There’s time for one more,’ Anne said, speaking over her shoulder as she climbed the first step.

‘How many has she had?’ Michael asked, his voice now quiet.

‘This’ll be the third bottle.’ Sarah answered. ‘And she’s had most of them.’

Michael shook his head.

Already one too many.

Anne’s drinking had been a concern for months. Longer, maybe. But so far Michael had been unable to bring himself to confront her about it. He had tried to rationalise his reluctance, telling himself that it was not that bad. Then that it was her life. But deep down, he knew the cause. Michael did not raise the subject of Anne’s drinking because, ultimately, he believed it was his fault.

Anne had been Michael’s sister-in-law in all but name. The partner of his brother Liam since they were teenagers, she had stayed in Liam’s life when Michael had not. And she had still been there when Michael had returned after two decades, running for his life from a professional killer hunting both him and Sarah.

Michael had brought that threat into Anne and Liam’s world. A threat which had ended in Liam’s death and with Anne a shell of her former self.

Michael would have given anything to turn back the clock. To keep his brother alive. That was impossible. But he could take responsibility for his brother’s broken ‘widow’, and that was exactly what he had done.

‘How was she before I got here?’ Michael asked.

‘She had on a brave face like always,’ Sarah replied. ‘But I could tell she’d been crying before I got home.’

‘And drinking?’

‘Didn’t seem like it,’ said Sarah. ‘But then she can hold her liquor a hell of a lot better than I can, so maybe.’

‘Look, I’m really sorry.’ It was not the first time Michael had apologised for imposing Anne on Sarah’s life. Guilt built upon guilt. ‘This won’t be forever. I promise that. Anne will get better, and when she does we’ll find her her own place. It’s not like she can’t afford it.’