Breathless and emotional, she paused. Pulled back her shoulders in a dignified manner. ‘My daughter died trying to expose this story. She was working as a trainee journalist, and on her way home one day she was deliberately knocked off her bike and killed by these people who see profit as more important than my daughter’s life.’

The room fell silent. Jill was watching her. Neither said anything. Kate held her breath.

‘So, what do you want to do – get compensation or change the rules?’ asked Jill.

‘Both.’

Jill nodded. ‘OK.’

‘OK, what?’

‘OK . . . I’ll do it. If there’s a case, which it sounds like there might be, I’ll do it.’

‘They don’t have any money,’ said Kate fiercely.

‘I get that. I’ll do it on a pro-bono basis.’

It took a moment before Jill’s words sank in. ‘Seriously?’

‘Seriously.’

‘Oh my God.’ Kate couldn’t believe it. She suddenly collapsed back in her chair, swamped with relief and a rising euphoria.

‘So now we have to go through everything you’ve done so far with a fine-tooth comb,’ said Jill. She pulled out a yellow executive pad. ‘Can you stay?’

Christ, she could hardly leave. Greg was still out there – and Tim . . .

Worried, Kate looked up. ‘Yes, I think so. I mean, I just need to make a quick call first.’ She indicated that she needed to leave the room and Jill nodded.

As Kate moved away, Jill spoke up: ‘How’s the little boy?’

Kate turned back.

‘You mentioned a little boy who was sick. When we last met. I take it that’s Arnie?’

She remembered. Kate smiled cautiously. ‘It’s looking good. He gave us all a scare a few weeks ago but he’s on the mend again.’ She opened Jill’s office door, about to ask the PA if she could use his phone, when the words died on her lips.

Tim was sitting in a chair by the window, looking out onto the street. The PA was typing away, a faint click, click on his modern keyboard. Seeing Kate in the doorway, he suddenly stopped.

Tim turned his head. He jumped up and ran to her. ‘Are you OK?’

Kate nodded, flinching as she saw his face. ‘You?’

‘Fine.’ Tim gingerly touched his swollen eye. Smiled. ‘You should see the other guy,’ he drawled.

She let out a pained laugh. ‘Where is Greg?’

‘Police took him away. He punched one of them trying to do a runner. They’ve got him for assaulting a police officer. I also told them he’d kidnapped you.’ Tim nodded back towards Jill’s office. ‘How did it go?’

Kate broke into a grin, eyes shining.

His eyes widened. ‘Really? She’s going to do it?’

‘I found this document – well, I was given it. It’s proof, Tim. Proof about Crixus and how dangerous it is.’

He hugged her so hard she could hardly breathe.

‘Hey!’ she gasped, and he let her go.

Kate smiled. ‘You were amazing back there. You crashed the bus!’ she said in awe. She started laughing. ‘You crashed the bus! What’s work going to say?’