They all chatted amiably until they’d dropped the little boy off. Kelly wondered briefly what would become of him. At four or five he wasn’t a runaway, more likely sold to Jimmy by his mother or father. It was surprising what people would do for a couple of ounces of heroin.

Owen was delivered to his mother’s house and Juliette cried her eyes out as she hugged her son to her, thanking Patrick and the other men profusely until Dicky’s face was as red as a beetroot in embarrassment.

Later on, Patrick drove home and his heart felt lighter than it had since Mandy’s death.

He was seeing Kate the following night and couldn’t wait. He had observed Owen’s happiness at the attention from his mother who had hugged and kissed and shouted and berated him in her joy to see him home in one piece. It crossed Kelly’s mind that twelve, twenty, forty or eighty, everybody needed someone to care for, and to care for them. He wished he still had his Mandy.

If only they could find a clue to the villain responsible for her death.

Patrick Kelly didn’t realise he had spoken that very day to the man who had George’s full name, address and phone number.

Later that evening Patrick had a call from his police contact.

McDougall would live, though he would walk as if he had been on a roundabout for the rest of his life.

Kelly smiled to himself. It was a job well done.

Now all he wanted was his daughter’s murderer and then he could settle down to some kind of a normal life.

Kate watched Patrick’s face closely, her heart going out to him. ‘I tried to get in touch with you yesterday, but I just couldn’t locate you anywhere. I wanted to tell you myself.’

‘I know that, Kate.’ He pulled her towards him and kissed the top of her head.

‘In a way I’m relieved, but in another way it makes it all seem real somehow. Sometimes I wake up in the night and I think it was all a big mistake, and if I get out of bed I’ll walk into her room and she’ll be there. Fast asleep, her arm draped across her eyes. That’s how she slept even as a small child. But I suppose I’ll get over all that eventually. The wishful thinking. I’ll make the arrangements first thing in the morning. What’s happening with the O’Leary family?’

‘I told the mother yesterday, the husband is taking it all very badly . . .’

‘I mean, how are they off for dosh? Money?’

Kate was surprised.