Nell watched indulgently as they exchanged remarks in computer-speak, presumably to explain their areas of interest. She hardly understood a word but they seemed quite happy about whatever they were discussing.

‘Glad to have you on board,’ Angus said as the spate of information died down.

‘I can spare a few hours and I’ll enjoy a challenge. I’ll just have to phone my daughter so that she won’t worry about me. She’s at the flat we’ve rented and is expecting me back around now, only I got tempted into going for a walk. And before I do anything, I’d better go and pick up my car, which is still parked in town.’

‘Why don’t you ask your daughter to join us?’ Nell said. ‘She could get a taxi here.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes, of course. I know what it’s like to be a stranger in England and know no one. And a girl of that age must get rather bored waiting around for you.’

‘She does. Once my business is concluded I’ve promised to take her sightseeing to other parts of England, but until then she’s at a bit of a loose end.’

‘Phone her. Tell her the address is Dennings, Number 1 Peppercorn Street. The taxi driver will know where we are.’

Angus stood up. ‘In the meantime, I’ll run you into town to pick up your car so that I can grab some electrical stuff, then when we come back I’ll go over what I’m thinking of setting up with you. If you have any suggestions for improvement, I’d welcome them, though I have to make do with the parts I’ve got on hand here because I don’t have the time to go into Swindon for anything out of the ordinary. The new system needs to be up and working by tonight because our tenants have moved in and I don’t want them to be vulnerable.’

He smiled ruefully at Nell, knowing she’d understand the pleasure he always got from talking to a fellow IT specialist, not to mention the importance of keeping Saffron Lane safe.

When Angus dropped him near his car, Adam nipped into the supermarket to buy a few basic groceries and some fruit, as well as some flowers for Janey and a little toy for Millie. Then he went back up Peppercorn Street.

He was nervous about tonight, more nervous than he’d expected. Well, who wouldn’t be nervous in his situation?

How was Janey feeling? The same, probably.

As he drew up in front of the lovely old house, he saw Gemma getting out of a taxi and she turned to wait for him as it drove away.

‘Is this guy someone you know from work, Dad?’

‘No, someone I’ve just met. You know what it’s like when you make contact with other IT people.’

‘Other geeks. Yes, I’ve listened to you talking IT-speak and I don’t usually understand a word, apart from “and” and “but”, even though you’ve assured me it’s English.’

He chuckled. ‘Sorry. I forget there are other people around sometimes. I think Nell was feeling the same, as she got a glassy-eyed look while Angus and I were chatting.’