Josephine Flynn was aware that she had finally used up all the goodwill that her husband had always shown to her. She was feeling thoroughly ashamed of herself. She had always known that Michael had given her more love than she had ever deserved from him. He had been losing patience with her for a while now, and she didn’t know how to make it better, how to make him understand that she couldn’t help herself, that she hated herself for her weakness.

‘Please, Michael . . .’

He turned away from her, waving his arms in dismissal. ‘I can’t listen to you, Josephine. I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go.’

Chapter One Hundred and Nineteen

Chapter One Hundred
and Nineteen

Declan wasn’t sure if he was doing the right thing, but he couldn’t, in all good conscience, ignore the woman’s request for a meeting any longer. Nor could Michael either – he was already on his way to the meet.

She had contacted him personally, and she had waited a long time to be heard, refusing to discuss her business with anyone but Michael. She had been ringing his offices for over a week, but hadn’t explained why. Declan had finally called her back, and realised from her tone she might have important information.

He smiled at the woman sitting opposite him, sipping her cup of tea, and she smiled back at him, a serene smile, that made him feel better about everything. No matter what the outcome might be, she was at least being genuine. What more could anyone ask for?

Michael arrived at the address he had been given by Declan, and he parked his Range Rover carefully outside the house in question. This was his old stomping ground; he had grown up round the corner from this street, and he was pleased to see the change in it. East London was now a desirable place to reside. The houses that were once barely one step above slums, were now changing hands for exorbitant amounts of money. It was a fucking joke – everyone else dreamt of getting away from the area; now it seemed certain people were determined to buy a property there. Wonders would never cease.

He was already feeling guilty about turning on Josephine, even though he knew she had been asking for it for a long time. But he did love her, and he felt as much to blame for the way she lived as she was, because he had never once challenged her about her lifestyle. Until now.

Michael got out of his Range Rover, and locked it behind him. He walked up the short pathway to the front door of the house, and rang the doorbell. The front door was opened by Declan Costello, and Michael was ushered inside the tiny house.