Somewhere a little voice was saying that this was wrong. That it was she who should be comforting her daughter. But it felt so good to have someone to hold her, and kiss her hair, and tell her everything was going to be all right. Even though she knew in her heart that nothing would ever be all right again. That all she had wanted and held dear was destroyed. That she had been used by a man she loved so desperately that she would still have him now, if he came to her.

Lizzy stroked her mother’s hair and sighed gently. It felt good to be able to help her for once; to feel that she was in control of the situation. That her mother could let down her defences and admit that she was not Wonder Woman, that she had problems too.

It made her seem more human somehow.

Lizzy knew with the awareness of womankind that she could help her mother by holding her and loving her. For the first time ever, they were equals. They had healed a breach that spanned fifteen years. In spite of all her heartache, it felt good to Kate. It felt very good.

Later on, in her lounge with her mother and Lizzy, Kate heard the shock statement on News at Ten. She was drinking a bacardi and coke, having just got out of the bath. Lizzy had run it for her, filling it with the fragrance of lavender to make her feel calmer.

She had needed all her calm when Sandy Gall started speaking.

‘A British tourist was murdered today in Florida by a prostitute. George Markham was savagely slashed to death and his throat cut. From the reports we have had in so far, Mr Markham, who was fifty-one years old, had been wanted by the British police in connection with the murders of six women and a child. He is believed to have been the Grantley Rapist. The police here have confirmed that they wanted to interview him on his return from Florida.

‘In the Lebanon today . . .’

‘Jesus suffering Christ!’ Evelyn’s voice was shocked and low.

Kate stared at Sandy Gall’s face for a moment. Then, jumping from her seat, she went to the hall and phoned Caitlin’s home number. It was answered on the second ring.

‘I take it you’ve heard the news, Katie?’

‘It’s true then?’

‘Oh, it’s true all right. It seems he got his comeuppance. He was murdered by a known prostitute called Linette something or other. She told police that he attacked her and it was self-defence.’

Kate nodded into the phone, forgetting Caitlin couldn’t see her.

‘Are you still there, Kate?’

‘Yes. Oh, Kenny, I feel such a fool.’

She heard the smile in his voice as he answered. ‘I told you not to jump in at the deep end, but you wouldn’t listen, would you?’

‘No.’