“Evening, Mack, Mr. Dexter,” Nikki said formally. “I’ve got some info on your new neighbour.”

“Great. What did you find out?”

“I asked my PA to look at our records. Apparently, Dad tried to buy the property years ago, when he was running the business. The present occupier’s grandfather owned the shop. It’s the only one on Waterford Street that we don’t own for leasing.”

“Uncle Thomas didn’t give him an offer he couldn’t refuse, then?” Mack asked.

Nikki smiled. “No. I called Dad, and he said it was Granny’s favourite sweet shop, and Dad became friendly with the man, so he was happy just to leave the property as it was.”

“Thanks for that,” Mack said, “maybe I can introduce myself.”

“You’re welcome. Oh, Isy wants you to cut her hair,” Nikki added.

“Any time, wee barra. Just text me, Nik, when you want it done.”

After she hung up, Mack thought: The only shop in the street not belonging to a Sharkey. Mack had to know her better.

Chapter Four

Flora was late. She never got much sleep last night as her upstairs neighbours decided to have an all-night party. Flora looked at her watch. I’m so late.

Sandra would be at the shop any time. Just as she rounded the corner of Waterford Street, she saw her new neighbour, Mack, lifting the shutters on her barbershop. She quickly retreated back around the corner. Flora didn’t want to walk past her in case she tried to engage her in conversation.

She watched until she saw Mack go inside her shop, then hurriedly rounded the corner and headed to Sweet Surprise. As she neared Mack the Knife the barber, she let her hair fall down on her face and pulled the collar of the jacket up as far over her face as she could, so Mack couldn’t catch her eye.

Flora made it to the shop and opened up quickly. As she went through the door, she noticed a white envelope on the doormat. She picked it up and saw it was handwritten: To Flora.

This was intriguing. Flora locked the door behind her and went through to the back of the shop. Once she’d dispensed with her jacket, Flora opened up the letter.

Dear Flora,

My name is Mack Sharkey, and I’m your new next-door neighbour. First of all, thanks for rescuing my little boy Dexter yesterday. He is everything to me.

Wow. Flora felt a warmth expand in her chest, and the corners of her mouth rose in a smile. Mack looked like a tough, no-nonsense butch, not someone you would expect to have a sausage dog she treated like a baby. Certainly, when they’d met that fateful night, her looks, confidence, and tone of voice conveyed a really tough person who wasn’t afraid of anything.

The letter continued: