‘Alice!’ Faith is dashing towards her, almost toppling over on her three-inch heels. She’s wearing a tight-fitting, short black dress, her dark hair loose and curled. She looks stunning, but equally wrong. Faith always wears dungarees and check shirts, trainers, her hair in a high ponytail. ‘You came. Yay, it’s so good to see you,’ Faith goes on, grabbing Alice, and giving her a hug. ‘What changed your mind?’

‘What can I say? Curiosity got the better of me,’ Alice says, as Faith releases her.

‘It killed the cat too.’ It’s Mitch, appearing with a glass of brandy in his large hand. He presses his free hand against Faith’s back. ‘So be careful.’

‘Mitch,’ Alice says, and adds, out of politeness, ‘nice to see you again.’

He smiles, but there’s darkness in his eyes. ‘Good to see you again too, Alice.’

‘You look lovely,’ Alice says, eyes back on her friend.

Faith looks up at Mitch, and tugs at the hem of her dress.

‘I picked it out,’ Mitch says. ‘A woman should look like a woman, don’t you think?’

Alice looks from Faith to Mitch, and bites her tongue. ‘Listen, I’m about to have something to eat. Are you around after?’

‘We’ll probably be here until they throw us out,’ Faith says with a laugh.

‘Great, I’ll see you in a bit then.’ She turns to go, then spins back. ‘I tried to call you a few times to let you know I was coming, but your phone went to voicemail every time.’

‘God. I know. I’ve lost the bloody thing.’

‘You’ve lost your phone?’

‘Yep, although …’ Faith glances about her, and reducing her voice to a whisper, says, ‘I’m not the only one who has had their phone go missing.’ She points to a woman in her fifties sitting by an open fire, wearing a satin dress, and strappy shoes. An elaborate standard lamp beams light on the wing-backed chair, as she reads. She’s attractive; her thick, chestnut-brown hair swept over one shoulder, silky and straight. As though sensing Alice’s stare, she turns quite suddenly, her gaze intelligent, her features sharp. A small smile crosses her lips, as though she realises Alice has seen what she’s reading: Where Doves Fly.

‘Lori’s lost her phone too.’ Faith’s voice sounds far away. ‘Which makes it a bit odd, don’t you think?’ Alice pulls her gaze away from the woman, back to her friend who is still talking. ‘Mind you, with this lighting it’s easy to lose things, I guess.’

‘Have you reported it?’ Alice asks.

‘Well, I’ve told Christine on reception. I hate not having it. It’s amazing how many times I reach for it.’

Alice glances over her shoulder. ‘I better go and order some food, before Leon gets hangry and chews his arm off.’