‘What?’ Anna looked from her to Charlie and back again. ‘What’s going on?’

Neither of them answered. Then Mrs Church said, ‘I’m going to open up the shop,’ and bustled out, her coat under her arm.

Anna looked back at Charlie. His expression was blank as he picked up his newspaper.

‘Why are you reading that when you should be working?’ frustration made her snap.

‘I’m just waiting for the ovens to warm up – oi!’ he cried in protest as Anna snatched the newspaper out of his hands. ‘I was reading that!’

‘Not on my time, you’re not. I’m sure there’s some work you could be getting on with.’

‘We’ll see what Eddie has to say about it,’ Charlie muttered darkly as Anna left the kitchen, the newspaper tucked under her arm.

‘You’ll have to find him first,’ Anna called back over her shoulder.

Mrs Church was pulling up the blinds when Anna walked into the shop. She glanced back and Anna saw her face fall. Then she turned away again.

‘I hope you ain’t going to be pestering me with questions about your husband?’ she muttered.

‘You do know something, don’t you, Mrs Church? What is it? What won’t you tell me?’

‘I don’t know anything.’ Mrs Church kept her back turned, fiddling with the blind cord. ‘I keep my eyes and ears closed, I find it’s the best way. Don’t want to be accused of interfering,’ she added meaningfully.

Anna stifled a sigh. There had been a couple of times over the past month when Mrs Church had tried to tell her tales about Edward, but Anna had kept her promise to him and refused to listen. The last time Mrs Church had come to her, Anna had told her not to interfere.

Mrs Church had not taken it very well.

‘Fine, don’t tell me,’ Anna snapped. ‘I daresay he’ll find his way home soon enough.’

‘I daresay he will,’ Mrs Church sniffed. Then, as Anna turned to go back upstairs, she added, ‘But if you want to know where to look for him, I’d try the Fallen Angel.’

Anna looked back over her shoulder at her. ‘The Fallen Angel? I don’t think I know it …’

‘No, you wouldn’t. It’s the other side of the park, near Hackney way. Not the kind of place a respectable person should know about.’ Mrs Church looked disapproving.

‘What would Edward be doing up there?’

‘That’s where his new pals hang out. So Charlie says, anyway. He often leaves the boy in the kitchen while he goes off there to play cards and – whatever else.’

So that was why he’d given Charlie a key. ‘How long has this been going on?’ Anna asked.

‘I really couldn’t say.’ Mrs Church pursed her lips. ‘I’ve been told to mind my own business, and that’s what I’m doing.’

Anna could tell from Mrs Church’s gloating expression that she was dying to say more. Edward was right, she really didn’t have a good word to say about him.