‘Come in. I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude but it gave me a shock, seeing you standing there.’ She took him through to the front room. ‘Is it something to do with the case?’ He could see the hopeful glimmer in her eyes and shook his head.

He could see the two women in the kitchen and smiled at them.

‘Could I see you for a second alone, Kate?’

Something in his voice alerted her and going to the connecting door she closed it, apologising to her mother and daughter as she did so.

‘What is it, Kenny?’

She had a feeling like a cold hand grabbing her neck. Something was up here, she knew it.

‘It’s Dan. He went to see Flowers about you and Kelly.’

Kate bit her lip. ‘I see.’

‘Well, Flowers wasn’t interested, you know. So Dan took it one step further, Kate. He took it to the CIB.’

Kate felt as if someone had punched her in the stomach.

‘I thought you ought to know. I found out through an old friend of mine, so no one at the station except me and you know about it, OK? It’s not even definite that they’ll investigate it, but just in case I thought you had a right to know. That ex-husband of yours is an Asshole with a capital A.’

Kate nodded. She couldn’t have agreed more.

Evelyn opened the door, her face troubled.

‘Is everything all right?’

‘You must be Kate’s mother. I’m Kenneth Caitlin.’

‘A Kerry man by the sounds of it?’

He smiled at her and the little exchange gave Kate time to get her head together.

‘Come through and have a drink, Kenny. This is my daughter Lizzy, and my mother’s already introduced herself.’

‘I’ll be away home, Kate, I can see you’re eating.’

‘You’ll do no such thing. Get that awful mac off and come and have a bit of stew, there’s plenty.’ Evelyn’s voice brooked no argument. She had been intrigued by Kate’s description of this man, and now she could judge for herself.

Caitlin had smelt the delicious aroma of the stew as he had walked up the garden path, and seeing the three faces smiling at him he hesitated only a second longer. Then he took off the mac and placed it on the sofa.

‘If you twist my arm up me back, it does smell good!’

Kate was glad he stayed because he took over the main thrust of the conversation and she could think.

The Criminal Investigation Bureau.

Bugger Danny Burrows!

Patrick was sitting at the dining table just finishing his meal when Willy announced that he had a visitor. He wiped his mouth with an Irish linen napkin. When he heard the name of his visitor, his left eyebrow rose a fraction.

‘Show him in here.’ Willy nodded and left the room.