‘Oh?’ This piqued her interest. ‘They spoke to me at my house.’ There was a touch of smugness in her voice but, in reality, she would have loved to go to the police station. It would have been exciting.

‘Yeah, I think I was last on their list or something and they’ve had their hands full with this woman, I suppose. No time for house calls now they have a double murder to investigate.’

‘Yes indeed. Anyway, I will arrange something…’ That thing being a floral wreath; she hoped he understood her meaning. ‘For the memorial, and then get in touch to arrange a time.’

‘A time for what?’ Steven sat up in bed, perplexed.

‘For us all to go to the bookshop and lay it.’

‘Oh. I thought you just wanted us to give some money towards it.’

‘Well I do, but we should be there to lay it don’t you think?’

‘Suppose. If you think that’s the right thing to do.’

‘I do.’

‘I’ll be in touch when everything is in place.’

‘Right.’ Steven stifled a groan.

‘Have a good day.’ Jane hung up and immediately dialled the number of a local florist and ordered a large wreath, despite the fact the weather report had warned of more snow.

In Balsham, Francesca was hoping to make plans for Christmas. She hadn’t broached the subject with Veronica but with it only being eight days away she was beginning to worry.

Francesca had no intention of letting her sister spend Christmas day on her own, but she also wanted to be back with her husband. Her daughter was meant to be visiting from New Zealand and her flight was due on December the twenty-second.

She and her daughter, Natalie, were complete opposites. Natalie was a free spirit who had flown the nest at her earliest opportunity. She was an artist who had fallen in love with a Kiwi and had moved back to his home country to build a life with him. There was no animosity between mother and daughter, but they would never really understand one another.

Francesca was sad that her only child lived on the other side of the world and that she had little idea about what her life in New Zealand was like. But she did like Leo and could sleep easy knowing that he was taking good care of her daughter.

Natalie had not been back to Britain for nearly two years and this was the first time she would see her mother since her last visit. Francesca had been looking forward to her arrival ever since the trip had been planned in June. But now the day was growing ever closer Francesca was worried her time spent with her daughter was in danger of being cut short.