Kate laughed. ‘Yes, I remember that.’

‘So come on, Mum, what’s he really like?’ Lizzy’s little face was earnest.

‘He’s a very kind man. Now that’s enough of that, madam. You tell me about yourself. What’s been happening here?’

Lizzy began telling her about her day and Kate listened, glad to drop the subject of Patrick.

But she admitted to herself that he strayed into her thoughts often. She relived their lovemaking in her mind at odd moments. He was exciting and potentially dangerous, a lethal combination, but Kate didn’t care. For the first time in her life she was being loved and she was thriving on it.

‘Before I forget, Lizzy, how would you feel about going out to Australia?’

Her eyes widened. ‘Really? You mean, go out to Uncle Pete?’

Kate nodded.

‘Oh, Mum, that would be excellent.’

‘Gran would go with you. I can’t, because I can’t get the time off work, but I thought you’d enjoy it. It would be a break. You’d have the sun, and see your cousins.’

Lizzy launched herself from her chair and wrapped her arms around her mother’s body. Kate could feel the excitement in her.

She hugged her daughter back. Kate would have loved to have gone, but she just couldn’t afford it. As it was she was going to get a bank loan to pay for Lizzy and Evelyn to go, for spending money and everything else. But she would willingly sell her soul if it meant making her daughter happy.

‘Oh, Mum, you’re so good to me!’

Kate kissed her soft, sweet-smelling hair.

‘We’ll find out when you’re leaving here and then I’ll book it. It’ll give you something to look forward to.’

Lizzy skipped over to a small crowd by the record player and told them her good fortune. Kate felt lighter inside at seeing her daughter’s happy face than she had for a long time.

At that moment Dan was sitting opposite Frederick Flowers. It was after seven and Flowers was surreptitiously trying to glance at his watch. Dan saw and it annoyed him.

‘Well, what are you going to do about it?’

Dan’s blond good looks had annoyed Flowers straight off. He had felt distaste for the man from the minute he had opened his mouth.

‘Your ex-wife, Mr Burrows, is a senior officer. She is working on a case involving Mr Kelly’s daughter.’

Dan broke in, ‘But she’s sleeping with the man!’

Flowers smiled annoyingly. ‘I’m afraid I only have your word for that.’ He stood up and held out his hand. ‘I promise you I will look into your allegations personally.’

Dan stood up too and ignored the outstretched hand. He pointed a finger at the man in front of him.

‘She’s knocking him off, a known villain. Personally, I think that needs pretty close attention.’