‘Not long after she seen them, Campbell went away on business, and he told everyone he’d sent Olivia to finishing school around the same time.’ His cheeks bloomed in guilty embarrassment. ‘Sorry, mate, but you and Olivia became hot gossip, and you know what some folk are like, they won’t let it lie. Some of them even made it their business to find out what was going on.’

The colour drained from Ted’s face. ‘And?’ he said, his voice just audible.

Andy pulled a brief grimace. ‘Olivia came back but there was no baby, and she’d lost an awful lot of weight …’ He hesitated for a moment. ‘I don’t mean to pry, but we all kind of assumed you were the father, and that’s why you’d disappeared without trace, although if she never told you …’ Seeing the look on Ted’s face, he nodded slowly. ‘I see.’

‘I didn’t have a clue,’ said Ted quietly. ‘Although it does explain why Campbell invented that cock and bull story about me nickin’ fish.’

Andy fiddled with the end of his tie. ‘He wanted rid before you got wind of the truth.’ He gave Ted a grim smile. ‘Don’t get me wrong, mate, but I can’t see you and Campbell playing happy families, can you?’

Ted gave a mirthless laugh. ‘Nope.’ He pushed his hands through his hair. ‘Does anyone know what happened to Olivia?’

Andy shook his head. ‘Not a clue, although I do know her mam’s health took a turn for the worse after she come back from her …’ he gave a shallow cough, ‘… finishing school.’

Ted wrung his cap in his hands. ‘I swear I didn’t know.’

Andy nodded. ‘I believe you, mate, although you might get a few funny looks if you bump into any of the lads you used to work with, because as rumours go, someone spread it round that Campbell had paid you to scarper and never show your face around these parts again – not that I believed it,’ he added hastily.

Ted looked at the clock above the door to the NAAFI. ‘Thanks for filling me in.’

Andy nodded. ‘No problem.’ He was about to get up when a thought occurred to him. ‘What are you going to do?’

Ted’s chair scraped across the floor as he got to his feet. ‘I’m going to find Toff, after I’ve told her old feller what I think of him.’ He rammed his hat on to his head and left the NAAFI without a backward glance.