She loved her grandad and cuddled into his big flabby frame. It was Tony’s daughter who answered the door and she stood by silently as they walked in.

Patrick nodded at the girl. She was not part of this, he knew that.

‘Where is he, love?’

She pointed to a door at the end of the passageway. ‘In there. Look, Mr Kelly, my daughter’s in there . . .’

He ignored her and walked into the room.

‘Hello, Tone, long time no see. I’ve come to take you for a little drive. Have a chat like.’

Tony Jones blanched. The little girl on his lap sensed his fear and hugged him tighter.

Kelly looked at the long blond hair and enormous blue eyes. She could have been his Mandy as a child. He put out a hand and touched the soft downy head.

‘Hello there, my darling. What’s your name?’

The little girl looked up at the man and grinned, exposing tiny pearl-like teeth.

‘Melanie Daniels and I’m three.’

‘You’re a big girl for your age, aren’t you? Let Grandad get his coat, darlin’, while me and you have a little chat.’

The child looked at her grandad and was glad when he nodded assent. She decided she liked the big man in the big coat. Willy watched fascinated as Patrick took the girl’s tiny hand. He then accompanied Tony Jones while he got his coat. Tony opened his mouth to speak and Willy silenced him.

‘You must have been barmy if you thought you could pull one over on Pat where that scumbag’s concerned.’

Tony hung his head.

Melanie was sitting on Patrick’s knee, regaling him with stories about her life.

‘I’ve got a little cat called Sooty. Have you got a cat?’

Patrick shook his head.

‘How about a little doggie? You got a little doggie?’

Patrick smiled at her with genuine good humour. She was an enchanting child.

‘Can I make you a coffee, Mr Kelly?’ Jeanette’s voice was flat. She knew enough about Patrick Kelly to know her granddaughter was safe. She had known Renée many years before. She knew that he would remember that.

‘Why not?’ Patrick looked into her eyes. ‘I’m sorry about this, Jeanette, but you know the score.’

She couldn’t meet his gaze so got up and went to the kitchen. Willy and Tony came back into the room.

‘And I go to play school.’ Melanie was still chatting and Patrick was enjoying the conversation.

‘Really? What do you do there?’

Melanie bit her top lip in consternation as she thought. ‘We do singin’ and paintin’, sometimes. I can sing “The Wheels on the Bus”, all the way through.’ This last bit of information was given with a toss of her long blond hair and Kelly laughed.

‘You’re a clever little girl, Melanie.’