Luckily, she took it in good part, seeing as her photo shoot with Flynn had almost finished by the time I rocked up with Kerry anyway!

I encouraged him to get into Kerry’s stationary car. “Come on I’ll explain on the way.”

Chapter Thirty-Seven

“What the hell did you think you were doing, going to that guy’s offices on your own?”

I stared up at Flynn. “I had to find out the truth. Lulu Stark asked Kerry and me for help.”

Flynn, his grandfather, Kerry, and I were loitering outside the police station, after Flynn senior, Kerry and I had been questioned further by the police and more statements were taken from us. We all looked and felt mentally and physically exhausted by that afternoon’s events – like the three of us had been put through a spin cycle.

We had emerged, blinking, into the early evening which was now all but extinguished by the descending darkness. The lights of the office blocks, shops, and flats intermingled with the festive ones, sparking against one another in a dazzling display. It was as if a box of precious stones had spilled across the city.

Weary office workers shuffled past, ties askew and blouses crumpled, desperate to get home and wash off the rigours of their working day.

Flynn shook his dark head in exasperation. “You could have been killed.”

“But I wasn’t and I’m ok. That’s thanks to Kerry and your grandfather.”

Flynn sighed. “What on earth am I going to do with you, Leonie?”

I gave a small, cheeky smile. He broke into a devastating grin, but we were interrupted by Flynn senior’s commanding voice.

“Right, Flynn, I’d like you to give your parents a call and tell them to come over to my place.”

Flynn pulled his attention away from me and stared with incredulity at his grandfather. “Are you serious?”

“Of course, I am.”

“But why do you want to invite my parents over?” asked Flynn, raising his eyebrows. “I think the last time you had Carl and Diana over, ABBA were at number one.”

“Very drole. I can see where you inherited your waspish wit.” Flynn senior turned to Kerry and me, presumably because he thought he might have more success at a less pithy conversation. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking of late and there are a few things in my life I want to change.”

Before either Flynn or I could guess what they might be, Flynn senior turned to Kerry. “Would you be able to take us home, dear girl, and perhaps stop off on the way? There’s someone else I want to invite along.”

“Merry Wood?” hissed Flynn to me, as Kerry swept her car into the vacated picnic area. “What’s the daft old sod up to now?”