Willy changed down again and sighed. They would be stuck here for ages now. Pat was like an old woman these days. Kelly shook his head in wonderment. He could just imagine the mourners’ faces when a Rolls Royce wheelspun around them. Willy was an animal at times.

‘Just take your time, we’ll get there soon enough.’

‘All right, Pat.’ Kelly could hear the sullenness in Willy’s voice and said, ‘Show some respect. It’s a funeral, for Christ’s sake.’

Willy kept his own counsel, but deep inside hoped that Porsche would one day do a stretch limo so he could go to his own funeral in style, and with a bit of speed and panache. The first corpse to do a ton!

He didn’t mention it to Pat though. He had a sneaky feeling he wouldn’t laugh.

Kate sneaked into her house at seven, grateful that no one was up. As she showered she heard her mother get up and the distant clatter of breakfast being made. She went into her bedroom and messed up the bed, smiling as she did so. At her age she should not have to worry about spending the night with a man, but it was respect really. Respect for her mother and her daughter. She felt the glow that still surrounded her body. The night had been a long one. With Patrick sex was a labour of love, and she had missed him. Oh, how she had missed him. She relived in her mind the slow deliberate lovemaking. She knew she was undone and did not care.

Her mother had come up trumps over the Australia business. It was remarkable that she had kept that money secret for so long. Kate felt a great surge of affection for her, knowing that Evelyn was just trying to take the burden from her. Lizzy was like a dog with six lamp posts at the thought of going. It was as if after all the trouble they had been having, everything had finally come together. All Kate wanted now was the Grantley Ripper - and she would get him. And when she did, she would see him put away for ever. Then she could concentrate once more on her family and Patrick. She was looking forward to concentrating on him.

Lizzy knocked on her bedroom door and walked in. ‘Oh, Mum, I just woke up and the first thing I thought was: This time next month, I’ll be in Australia! I just can’t believe it. A whole six weeks holiday in Oz! I can’t wait.’

Kate smiled at her daughter in genuine happiness.

‘Come here, poppet.’ She put out her arms and Lizzy fitted herself into them.

‘Were you with that man last night, Mum? That Patrick Kelly?’

Kate looked into her daughter’s face, so much like her own, and sighed gently. She nodded.

‘I think you should hang on to him, he’s really sexy.’