Lizzy had made Kate promise not to let on she was a policewoman. Kate had been reluctant to agree, but she saw the sense of it. In a unit where most of the people were drug abusers it would not exactly endear Lizzy to them to have a mother who was a ‘Filth’.

Lizzy’s white, drawn features haunted her. She watched her mother and daughter talking together and felt a deep hurt, as if she had somehow been the cause of it all. She had lain awake the night before, thinking, If only I’d made Dan stay. But he had not wanted to stay. She had not made Dan go, he had practically run out of her life. Bag and baggage. Lizzy had adored her father and he had only ever let her down. Kate had prided herself on never doing so, but maybe she had failed?

As they left the hospital, Evelyn grabbed her hand to cross the road to get to the car park. Kate closed her eyes tightly. Her mother still helped her across the road. It was laughable really.

She dropped Evelyn off at home and then made her way into work. She had to see Ratchette and try and undo some of the damage that had been done there. As much as she loved Lizzy, and as much as she wanted to help her, without her job they would all be up a creek without a paddle.

Something Lizzy often forgot.

As Kate and her mother left the hospital, Dan was making his way in. It was just as well they missed each other. Kate wasn’t in the right mood for him. But his presence made Lizzy happy.

Ratchette and Kate faced one another. He had offered her coffee and now the two of them sat sipping it.

‘Are you sure everything’s OK, Kate? If you need compassionate leave . . .’

She shook her head. ‘No, I don’t. Lizzy is being very well looked after and I shall be back at work tomorrow.’

‘Well,’ Ratchette drew the word out between his teeth, ‘this is a very stressful case, Kate. As I’m sure you’re aware, we need people on it who will give it one hundred percent . . .’

As she opened her mouth to speak there was a knock on the door.

‘Come in.’

Caitlin bowled into the office.

‘Hello there, Katie! How’s your poor daughter?’ He beamed at them. ‘I’m glad that I caught you. When are you back? Because I’ve been keeping a record of everything that’s been happening for you, you know, so you won’t have missed anything.’

‘I’ll be back tomorrow.’

‘That’s grand, just grand. I hope everything works out with the girl.’

‘Did you want anything, Kenny?’ Ratchette’s voice was loud.