Eleanor snorted. ‘And good morning to you too. Actually,’ she said with a slow smile and a slur that hinted she might already have been drinking, ‘I’m glad you’re here.’

‘Oh, really?’ Angie tried to sound brave, but there was something in Eleanor’s face that made her uneasy.

‘You might be able to save me a call to the police.’

Angie opened her mouth in surprise. ‘The police?’

Eleanor narrowed her eyes. ‘To report a theft.’

‘What?’ Angie’s heart jumped into her mouth. ‘What theft? What are you talking about?’

‘A valuable piece of jewellery. A gold and ruby bracelet. It’s gone missing. You and your children are the only unknowns who’ve been here. And, let’s face it, any of you could have done it. That son of yours has been snooping around, and you and Tamsyn had ample opportunity to take it.’

Angie tried to hold herself upright as her mind raced. When she spoke she kept her voice as level as she could manage. ‘None of us has taken anything.’

Eleanor leant forward. ‘Are you sure?’

Angie hesitated. Her thoughts became muddy. She glanced back at Gareth who was sitting in the car with a newspaper resting on the steering wheel. He turned his head and caught her looking and gave her a questioning thumbs-up. Flustered, she nodded, and he went back to his paper.

‘I probably should have asked your son about it when he dropped Edith home on that horrific death-trap of his yesterday.’

‘But he was working yester—’ She stopped herself.

Eleanor gave a triumphant smile. ‘I suggest you go home, Angie. Talk to your son. Ask him where my bracelet is then bring it back to me.’

The door of Gareth’s car opened and closed behind her.

‘You okay, Angie?’ he called over.

Eleanor looked at him over Angie’s shoulder and sneered. ‘Christ, you’re a load of inbreds down here, aren’t you? Now remove yourself from my property and get my bracelet back from your thieving son.’ Then she stepped back into the house and slammed the door.

Gareth opened the passenger door for Angie.

‘You’re shaking like a leaf, love,’ he said as he helped her in. ‘What happened?’

‘I need to talk to Jago.’ Her voice trembled with shock. ‘Can you take me up to Rick Statton’s yard? It’s just the other side of Halsetown.’

Bobby Statton and Jago had been friends at school. Bobby’s dad, Rick, owned a salvage yard. Though the boys knew each other, and Rick’s dad had played football for West Penwith with Granfer, she didn’t know Rick personally so wasn’t surprised to see him staring at her without recognition as she climbed out of Gareth’s car.