She nodded, and went to kiss him. They were in his private changing area, and so she felt able to show him the affection she felt for him. She would love to go for a pint with him right now, and tell him all the woes of the case, but it would have to wait for tonight. Johnny had said he was cooking again, and it fell into her plans, so she hadn’t objected. She’d enjoyed the presence of his body next to hers last night, and despite feeling rotten with a cold, she’d slept better than she had in two whole months. She felt a flutter of excitement hit her tummy as she looked forward to the evening that lay ahead.

She felt lethargic as she left Ted’s offices and yawned as she answered a work call.

She stopped in the middle of the corridor and leant against the wall. She nodded and ended the call, realising that a hit of adrenalin had revitalised her senses. She broke into a sprint and took the stairs up to the intensive care unit.

Lord Donald Reilly was awake.

She got to the ICU breathless, and saw to her horror that Fabian Kennedy-Craig was already there, and she could hear a shouting match between him and Elaine Reilly. She rang the security buzzer furiously and was let in by an irate nurse, who recognised her police lanyard.

The nurse was fuming speaking into a ward phone, asking for security.

Kelly could see Fabian, but it was only Elaine’s voice that identified his adversary. They were shouting at full volume now, and Kelly marched towards them and held Elaine back.

‘Fabian! You need to leave! This is the family’s private space, you shouldn’t be here.’ She had to shout over them to be heard. They both ignored her. Kelly caught snippets of the tempestuous exchange, from the middle of the battleground between them. Fabian was accusing Elaine of dragging his father to his death by association with her husband. In return, Elaine was doing the same.

‘Jesus, Fabian, leave now or I’ll have you arrested!’ Kelly shouted, still holding on to Elaine, who was red-faced and incandescent with rage. The daughter, Abigail Reilly, hovered about behind the spectacle, and pleaded with her mother to calm down. Kelly noticed that she showed no ill will towards Fabian Kennedy-Craig.

Fabian retreated and left the ward, his long coat wafting behind him like a cape of defiance. Kelly looked at Elaine, who was shaking. Abigail’s eyes followed Fabian.

‘What happened?’ Kelly asked.

‘He happened!’ Elaine said. ‘What is he doing here?’ she shouted.

Kelly felt the full impact of the woman’s scorn. ‘He was here visiting his father,’ she said, sobering Elaine a little. ‘What is it with you two?’ Kelly asked. ‘I heard good news, that your husband is awake, and I get here to a screaming match.’