Simon smiles, but it’s tight and doesn’t reach his eyes. He’s clearly not happy with Beth sabotaging his plans and she wonders why; he’s usually so easy-going. ‘The booking is eleven until one, so we could go to your parents’ this afternoon?’

‘Please, Daddy?’ Ava slips her hand inside Simon’s and gazes up at him.

He sighs. ‘Well okay, but let’s at least take our overnight bags with us. Then we can go straight to Granny and Grandpa’s from there.’ Simon’s parents live in Hertfordshire, the opposite side of London from Painshill Park, which means they’ll almost drive past their road on their journey northwards. Beth feels sad that he’s so desperate to avoid his own home, because it reminds her of how she felt growing up. A new surge of anger wells up as she realises how much damage Mark has caused.

‘A weekend away to recharge,’ she whispers. ‘Then we’ll sort this Mark problem together, okay?’

He smiles at her, but she can’t help feeling like there’s a new barrier between them.

Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Joseph

Joe Stone parks up next to the line of ambulances and kills the engine. He hates hospitals. He’s hated them since he was 15 when his appendix burst, and the school decided to call 999 rather than wait for one of his parents to pick him up. They were both there in time to sign the forms for the operation, but having to writhe in agony in front of his 25-year-old (and super-hot) history teacher was enough to put him off all things medical for life.

So it’s a shame that, with his job, he ends up in the hospital fairly regularly. ‘Ready then?’ he asks, clicking his seatbelt free and reaching for the door handle.

‘Yep. Let’s do it,’ Jason says in response, his colleague in CID and best mate in the force. Everyone reckons they look alike – the two J’s as they’re known – but Joe is quietly confident that he’s the better-looking of the two.

They push on their respective doors and climb out of the unmarked Vauxhall Astra. They’re heading for the St James’ wing of St George’s Hospital, which means going through the main entrance. Joe nods pleasantly at the three patients in wheelchairs sucking on cigarettes outside, while silently passing judgement. Then the two of them walk past the sweeping reception desk and towards the lifts. He notices a few passing glances from other visitors – however averagely they dress, people always seem to be able to spot a copper – but the staff don’t bother to look up. A detective heading up to ICU is too run of the mill for that.