I assured Lulu I would be in touch soon and that I wasn’t intending on hanging around with this information.

She vanished off back to her chauffeur-driven car, stationed on the other side of the car park.

“Leonie?”

I jumped at the voice behind me. “Kerry,” I gasped, clapping my hand to my chest. “Bloody hell! you gave me such a fright then.”

“Sorry.”

I frowned at her, decked out in her frilly-necked blouse and slim-fitting trousers. She was huddled under her umbrella. “Did you follow me down here?”

She focused on her chunky heeled shoes. “I thought I saw you talking to Lulu Stark.” She gazed past my shoulder. “I was right, wasn’t I? It was her.”

I didn’t answer. I didn’t have to. My silence confirmed it.

“I want to help you,” she implored. “You have no idea how sorry I am about the Chandler thing.”

I heaved a frustrated sigh. “I don’t think so, do you? I thought I could trust you and look where that got me.”

Kerry’s wide mouth trembled. “But that’s my point. I’ve made a terrible cock-up of things. You’ve been so wonderful and supportive and I need to make it up to you. I want to.”

I gazed heavenwards. “It sounds from what Lulu has just told me that this could all get a bit messy and the fewer people that know about it, the better.”

Kerry flailed one hand, sending her brolly wobbling around as she clutched it in the other. “Then all the more reason for you to have some help. You can trust me.”

I gave her a cool, sceptical look.

“Please, Leonie. Give me a chance to prove to you how sorry I am.”

When I still didn’t respond, she angled her head to one side. “I’ll do all of the legwork and you have my word I won’t breathe a word of this to anybody. Please!”

Oh God. She was gazing at me like an abandoned puppy.

It was clear I wouldn’t get any peace from her if I said no. My shoulders sank in defeat. “All right! All right! Enough of the guilt trip.”

Kerry gave me watery smile. “Does that mean I can work with you on this story after all?”

“Yes. Ok. But you do and say nothing to anyone, including Athena, unless I give you the nod. We need to be careful, otherwise we could blow it.” Like I blew it with Flynn, whispered a wounded inner voice in my head. I waggled the Stardust goodie bag at her. “Is that a deal?”

“Deal,” grinned Kerry, hurrying over to join me as we made our way back into the glistening glass office block. “I won’t let you down this time, Leonie. That’s a promise. Thanks for giving me a second chance.”

I managed a small smile back, in exchange for her relieved glowing one.