Paddy interrupted. “That goes for me too. If we’d relied on the police to clear this business up, I’d still be rotting in jail. So thanks, both of you.”

Lindsay blushed and shook her head. “Maybe we did do that. But I cocked the whole thing up in the end. I was so excited by what we’d found out that I ignored Cordelia’s good sense, and I have to accept responsibility for what happened to Sarah. It’ll stay with me for a long time. Maybe it will make me stop and think twice about some of the stunts I get up to. But the people who deserve at least as much thanks as me and Cordelia are Pamela Overton and you, Gillian, yourself. If Pamela hadn’t been so convinced of your innocence in the first place that she demanded our help, I don’t think it would have occurred to Cordelia or me to get involved in the way we did. And you’ve been pretty exceptional too, Gillian—I can’t think of many lawyers who would go along with the unconventional routine we’ve been pulling over the last week. End of speech. Now, will someone give me a beer?”

Gillian said goodbye and left the three of them sitting round the fire with their meal. They ate in a companionable silence for the main part, and it was only after they sat back with coffee that Paddy demanded to know the full story of their investigations. Between them, Lindsay and Cordelia managed to give her a full rundown.

There was a hush while Paddy took in all they had to tell. “What a waste!” she sighed at last. “So much loyalty. So much love. And two horrible deaths out of it. And what for? A bunch of bloody playing fields, which Cartwright will almost certainly pick up since I can’t see us raising the money now. Oh God, I think I’ll get a job in some grotty inner-city comprehensive where nobody cares that much about anything, let alone a few acres of green.”

“You’d hate that, and you know it,” Lindsay retorted, “so what about some inner-city comprehensive where people do care and need what you can give them?”

Paddy burst out laughing. “I’m hardly out of prison and already you’re lecturing me. I give up, Lindsay, I give up!”

Their general laughter was interrupted by a knock at the door. Paddy groaned. “Sounds like everything’s back to normal already.” She called, “Come in!”