‘No. I had him. That’s Mr Jenkins. I have him every week.’ A dark-haired girl looked at Patrick timidly. ‘He’s ever such a nice man, Mr Kelly, very polite.’

‘I’ll call the Old Bill.’ Patrick’s voice was quiet.

It was like his Mandy all over again, only this time it was his fault. Some piece of scum had taken that girl and murdered her, and it was his fault because he owned the place. He owned every brick and every cubicle and every girl who worked here.

He went to the office and rang the police. Then he sat in the chair and waited for them to arrive.

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-One

Patrick finally got to Kate’s at ten thirty. He pulled up outside her house and was gratified to see that the light was on in the lounge. He told Willy to take the car home and walked up the tiny path to her front door. He rang the bell. Kate was making herself a cheese sandwich in the kitchen. She went to the door licking her fingers clean.

‘I rang you at eight, but Mrs Manners said you were out. I didn’t expect to see you until tomorrow.’

He walked into the hall. ‘I didn’t know if you’d rung or not, to be honest; I haven’t been home.’ He followed Kate into the lounge.

‘Take your coat off. Be quiet, my mum’s in bed. I’m just making a sandwich, do you want one?’

‘What is it?’ Kelly hadn’t eaten since lunchtime.

‘Cheese or cheese?’

‘Cheese it is then. I’ll make the tea.’

He went to the kitchen and they both worked in silence for a while.

‘You upset me, you know, Pat. With what you did. But I see now that whatever way we got the testing, it can only be for the best.’

Patrick had forgotten about it. He shrugged.

‘Kate, you know I’m a repoman, don’t you?’

His voice was quiet and serious and it made her look at him.

‘Yes, why?’

‘Did you know I owned massage parlours too?’

‘Yes. I knew you had a vested interest. What’s all this about?’

Suddenly she was not at all sure she wanted to hear any more. What was it Caitlin had said - Patrick Kelly was one of the new breed of businessmen? He worked within the law, just. Was he going to ask her to help him with something not quite legit?

‘One of my girls was murdered earlier today. I don’t know if you heard it on the news? In Barking. Her neck was broken. Snapped like a twig. I feel terrible, Kate, really terrible. She was twenty-one years old.