‘Hello? The Bolton residence.’ Alfred watched as her face fell. ‘Oh, hello, Inspector.’ He knew in that moment there was no way they could leave the country now. ‘Yes,’ Marion spoke down the phone, ‘yes, I’ll come in tomorrow morning. Okay, yes, see you at ten o’clock. Okay. Goodbye.’ She hung up and closed her eyes. ‘They want me to go to the station and give them a formal statement tomorrow. When will this ever end?’

Alfred embraced his wife, knowing it would only be over when the person responsible was safely behind bars.

Across town, both Shirley and Janet were preparing to leave work. Shirley filled in the forms she needed to before walking out of the care home and getting into her car. She sat there for a while, resting her head on the steering wheel, wishing that her life was different.

But Janet was not the same as her friend. She didn’t wish for bigger and better things, she was content with her lot. As long as she had a good book on the go, that was all that mattered.

She locked up the shop and entered the alleyway to the side, which led to the stairs up to her flat. She was thankful that her Sunday had been quiet. Often, she had to contend with drunk, grumpy punters who had just blown their monthly income on backing the wrong horse, but that day had been blissfully easy, apart from her conversation with Pauline.

As Janet walked into her gloomy living room she contemplated the information she’d learnt that day. She knew only too well how people could go to pieces over money, and felt herself briefly pitying Pauline. The pity didn’t last long, though, and, as she made herself some packet noodles on the stove, she decided to call Shirley for a chat.

‘Hi.’ Shirley’s tone was unusually flat and Janet felt like she’d made a mistake by calling.

‘You OK?’ she asked tentatively.

‘Yeah, just fed up. What you up to?’

‘Thought I’d call for a chat. I saw Pauline today.’ She dangled the carrot for her friend.

‘Oh yeah?’ Shirley had no intention of biting.

‘She came into the bookies.’ Janet was determined to have her fun with this.

‘Bit odd.’ Shirley’s ears had pricked up. ‘How come?’

‘I thought you’d never ask,’ Janet sniggered. ‘She came to place a bet.’

‘No way!’

‘Yes, way, and you’ll never guess what …’ Janet paused to increase the tension, ‘she was in debt because of Toni.’ Shirley was silent and Janet wondered if the line had cut out. ‘Are you there?’

‘Yeah, sorry, just taking it all in.’

‘They were going to start a business together. Some sort of mobile library, or something.’

‘Sounds boring.’

‘Yes, but with Kindles instead.’

‘Sounds even worse!’ Shirley cackled.

‘Well, Pauline has got herself into serious financial trouble,’ Janet tutted, enjoying the gossip.

‘How much you talking?’

‘Tens of thousands.’