Kevin’s islander family had found themselves in trouble the year before when an illegal diesel-laundering plant they’d been running had caused his cousin to make some desperate choices, criminal choices. Kevin had known nothing about it but was still trying to help his family as much as possible while his cousin, who had been badly hurt, started his life sentence in hospital.

Leah looked down at her bump. “Now he can concentrate on the family he’s creating with me rather than the one that brought him up.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Great now that I’ve passed the first three months. I’ve stopped throwing up at least. And wanting to sleep all the time.”

“And how has Marina been?” I asked quietly.

“Good …” Leah said slowly, before the door opened and there was the sound of someone coming along the hall. I’d missed the “but” part, but I’d get it out of her later.

In the meantime, Marina herself walked into reception, all smiles. I’d met her only twice before I’d left for the States, once to interview her and once to show her the ropes over an afternoon at the office, but she was prettier than I remembered. Dark hair with pale skin and ice blue eyes, she looked a lot younger than the years her CV claimed she’d clocked up. She shook off her umbrella and left it carelessly against the wall, allowing it to slip and fall onto the carpet. I noticed Leah give it a sideways look, but she said nothing. It reminded me that I’d left mine behind me somewhere, in Stoop’s or the bank, I couldn’t recall which.

Marina kissed me on the cheek. “Welcome back!” She dropped her bag onto the floor too, causing a lipstick and tissue to spill out. “Sorry I wasn’t there to greet you last night, but I thought you might prefer the place to yourself.”

“No, you were right, thank you. I’ve had a great old sleep and I’m ready to face the world and my practice again,” I said brightly, choosing not to mention that I’d seen her with Harry. I wasn’t sure why.

“No jet lag?” She bent down to shove the lipstick and tissue back in.

“Either it hasn’t set in yet or I’m going to be lucky enough to escape it.”

“Coffee?” Leah said, looking at both of us.

“Great,” I replied. “Thank you.” I smiled. “Decaffeinated for you?”

She raised her eyes to heaven. “That’s one of the disadvantages all right.”

Marina turned to me and clapped her hands. “So, are you ready to start? Do you want to have a look at the files and see what’s been happening?”

I inhaled deeply and pushed back my shoulders. “Sure. Might as well get it over with.”