‘And you said the previous tenant died.’

‘That’s right.’ She adjusts herself as the baby finishes its feed. ‘Although that was a long time before. The flat was empty for years.’

‘I wonder why.’

Selena shrugs. ‘I can’t really remember.’

Marina is silent for a moment and then she says, ‘I was talking to the owner of Crystal’s Books.’

Selena strokes the baby’s head. ‘Crystal’s Books? The shop off the High Road?’

‘Yes. Apparently, Thomas Littleton . . .’

‘Who?’

‘The previous tenant here.’

‘Oh right.’

‘Well, he owned it.’

‘Maybe. I don’t know.’

‘She said that the reason there was a delay with the sale was because there was a missing relative. A relative who was supposed to inherit.’

‘Hmm. It rings a bell.’ Selena is distracted, buttoning the baby’s cardigan.

‘Do you know anything about that?’

Selena finishes securing the buttons, smooths the tiny cardigan and frowns. ‘No, I don’t think so. Although now you’re talking about it, I do recall the estate agent making an excuse for the flat being in a state because the landlord hadn’t been able to rent it out. He said something about the previous tenant’s possessions, though I’m not sure why they couldn’t have gone into storage. Maybe there was more to it.’

‘Right.’ Marina massages her temples, thinking. ‘I was just wondering about the stash you found. It sounds like it belonged to a little girl, doesn’t it?’

‘I suppose so. Yes.’

Marina knows she is asking too many questions, seeming too interested, and has to make a conscious effort to back off. The baby is asleep again. Selena crosses the room and lowers her gently into the cradle. She stands looking down, a faraway smile on her face, and then chats about feeding habits and sleepless nights. ‘I dream of having six hours of straight sleep. Five would be enough, even four,’ she says.

‘Absolutely,’ Marina replies absently. Her mind is still in another part of the flat, imagining a little girl hiding treasures beneath a floorboard, keeping them safe just as Marina herself used to do. Could it be that Thomas had a daughter who wasn’t mentioned in the newspapers? Perhaps that was the missing relative Crystal spoke about?

Selena is still talking. Marina refocuses. She is being crazy, thinking like this. She doesn’t know for sure whether this relative was male or female. How can she find out more? Who can she ask? Victor comes to mind. Perhaps it’s time to speak to him again.

24

Connie

1 August 1964

‘Are you sure you won’t come?’

Her father was leaving for York. His suitcase was packed and ready by the door. Victor had offered to pick him up and drive him to King’s Cross.

‘Yes,’ said Connie, brushing a speck from his waistcoat and handing him his jacket. ‘You’ll be better off alone.’

‘Are you certain?’ he asked again.

‘I’ll be fine.’