‘How? Tell me how, exactly,’ demanded Kate.

‘Her pelvis was held under the wheels. She was able to ask people passing by for help.’

‘Oh my God,’ Kate started to sob.

‘I’m so sorry.’ Sarah placed a hand on hers. ‘The investigation has already started,’ she said. ‘The police are appealing for witnesses.’

By spring, Sarah had become a regular visitor to the house. She was in uniform today, noticed Kate, with her blonde hair tied up in a high ponytail.

‘Have you heard anything about the break-in?’ asked Sarah.

‘Nothing. The police have had no leads at all.’

‘How about insurance?’

‘I’ve filled in the forms. They only seem to have taken Becky’s laptop, it was the only thing of any value and . . . I don’t know . . .’ She took a deep breath. ‘It seems pointless claiming it.’

Sarah offered a sympathetic smile. ‘Well, I do have some news.’

‘Yes?’

Sarah took a preparatory breath before her announcement. ‘The police have concluded the investigation and we are going to recommend to the CPS that they press charges against the driver.’

Tears threatened to well up in Kate’s eyes. ‘Thank God. What’s the charge?’

‘We are going to recommend Causing Death by Careless Driving.’

Kate frowned. ‘Careless? What does that mean? It sounds . . . insubstantial.’

‘There’s a maximum sentence of three years.’

Her mouth dropped open. ‘Three years?’

‘I’m sorry . . . I know it might not sound adequate, Kate, but we have to go with the evidence, and also present what we think will enable the CPS to make a strong case.’

Kate was silent for a while, bludgeoned by yet more grief. She looked at the soft rain falling against the window. ‘Can I see the evidence?’

‘I’m sorry, but the investigating team don’t want to disclose it.’

She looked up, taken aback, hurt. ‘But it’s my daughter. I need to know what happened. She was a good cyclist. She was responsible, she knew about the dangers of HGVs. She’d cycle on the quieter streets just to avoid the heavy traffic. She’d stay back when a lorry was turning – she told me this! Do you see? I still don’t know what really happened. Why it happened. Do you understand what I’m saying?’

Sarah gave a sympathetic smile but said nothing.

‘I’m her mother.’

‘I’m sorry, Kate, but in these cases, it seems hard . . . but the family is largely deemed irrelevant.’

She was so aghast, so demeaned, she was rendered speechless. It must be a mistake. But no, she could tell by looking at Sarah that it wasn’t.

Kate tried to keep her faith in the justice system but a few weeks later, Sarah came to the house with news that shocked her further.

‘I don’t understand. She died. How can the CPS not press charges?’ Kate stood up and went over to the kitchen window. Iris was watering the border at the front of her house. She’d planted a pink clematis there, for Becky, she’d said, and it was in full flower.