She whirled around, and her eyes widened in satisfaction. “Just the person. A solicitor. You’ll be able to tell this girl they can’t do this.”

Connie looked at me pleadingly.

“Why don’t you come with me and explain to me what has happened?” I said calmly to Amanda. “And we’ll see if there’s anything I can do to help.”

“But …”

I lowered my voice. “You don’t want the whole bank knowing your business, now do you? Maybe you could come and have a private chat with me and then we can come back if there’s something that needs to be cleared up. Would that make sense?”

Amanda looked around her as if noticing for the first time the other customers in the bank. I wondered how often she did her own banking. But I was surprised when she agreed to come with me, and without protest, as if relieved to hand the reins over to someone else.

Connie gave me a grateful smile and handed Amanda back her documents. I was turning to go when she stopped me. “Oh, hang on, there’s something here for you.” She handed me the red umbrella. “You left this behind you last week.”

“Thanks, Connie,” I said, making a mental note to ring her later about Marina. I still hadn’t done my own banking.

Amanda walked beside me listlessly and wordlessly as if she’d exhausted all her energy. When we got into the office, I made her a cup of black coffee and left her sitting in the waiting room while I turned on heating, computers and lights.

Leah wasn’t in yet, which surprised me. Connie’s presence in the bank had indicated that the roads were okay out her direction. Then my phone buzzed with a text.

Feeling a bit rough this morning. Is it okay if I’m a bit late? Sorry, I know it’s your first morning back. L

Of course, I texted back. Take your time.

I put the phone down and checked the drip in the bathroom to give Amanda a few more seconds to pull herself together. Then I remembered suddenly that I’d intended to check the yard the day before after my strange feeling on Saturday night. So I opened the back door and stepped out briefly but could find nothing out of the ordinary.

I was glad to see she had calmed down considerably when I returned.

“Feeling any better?” I asked as I sat down beside her.

She was draining her mug of coffee. “A bit. Thanks,” she said, handing me the empty mug as if I was her butler.

“That’s okay.” I put it on the floor and sat beside her. “Do you want to tell me what the problem is? You don’t have to, of course – I’m sure you’ll have your own solicitors dealing with Bob’s probate in due course.”

She stared at the floor.