John was not embarrassed. ‘You’ve known her for a long time,’ he said. ‘Since before the children were born. Before you married Andy, even.’

‘Was there ever a time before I married Andy? It’s hard to remember,’ said Christine, blowing her nose for the hundredth time; it must be bright red by now. ‘Time has a way of accelerating at our age,’ said John. Christine glanced up at his profile. His hair was greyer, the lines around his eyes a little deeper than before.

‘I’m sorry I didn’t know about the funeral,’ she said. ‘I would have come. Or at least sent flowers. I was very fond of Sue.’

‘It was just family. Sorry, but I couldn’t face crowds.’

Is that what I am? Just one of a crowd?

‘And we didn’t have flowers.’

‘Right.’ He obviously didn’t want to talk about it. ‘I see.’ But if he didn’t want to talk, why was he walking round and round, arm in arm, neither of them sure of what to say, whether they were still friends or even colleagues any more. Time to take the bull by the horns.

‘John.’ She swallowed hard. ‘I never had a chance to apologise for what happened . . .’

‘It’s okay. Mr Rivelli is no longer my responsibility.’

‘I know what everyone’s saying about me.’

‘You don’t listen to that rubbish, do you?’

‘The thing is, they’re right. I broke the biggest rule in the book. I’m a laughing stock. I don’t need to hear the jokes, because I’ve heard them all before.’

‘Don’t punish yourself, Christine.’

‘I don’t need to, do I? The profession will do that far more efficiently than I ever could. It’s started already. First of all they turn me down for silk . . .’

‘Everyone’s turned down first time.’

‘Bless you, John. Then the jobs start drying up.’

‘I know I’ve not been instructing you. It’s been a bad time. But you mustn’t worry. We’ll soon find something.’

‘I don’t want you to find something for me. I know the score. I’m going the same way as Linda. Chambers can’t actually get rid of me, as long as I keep paying my rent. But I’ll slip down the ladder rung by rung till I’m back in the magistrates’ again, doing hearings for parking tickets. That’s Christine Fairbrother, they’ll say. She used to lecture us about personal conduct. Now look at her.’

‘Feeling a bit sorry for yourself, Christine?’

It was like a slap in the face.

‘What?’

‘This mea culpa routine. Don’t you think you’re taking it a little far?’

She disengaged her arm from his. ‘Is that how it seems to you?’

He smiled. ‘A little.’

‘Hmmm . . .’ They walked on, more distance between them.

‘And you think it’s the end, do you?’ He raised his hands. ‘The big tragedy.’