Dan’s kiss had affected her more than she liked to admit. She had been without a man for far too long, that was her trouble. There were plenty of men at work who had asked her out over the years, but they had nearly all been married. The few who had been divorced only wanted to talk about cases, with a bit of sex thrown in, and that had never appealed to Kate. One thing she had learnt in the police force: male police officers could be the biggest whores going but a policewoman, especially one in a senior position, had to be above reproach.

‘What’s the matter, Mum?’ Lizzy’s voice was concerned.

‘Oh, just thinking, poppet. That’s all.’

Dan put his arm around her shoulders and hugged her to him. ‘You leave that old job behind you now, Kate. You’ve got your family around you.’

She pushed his arm from her shoulders and looked into his face.

‘I’ve always had my family, Dan, thank you very much.’

The atmosphere at the table turned chilly. Kate carried on eating her dinner.

‘She’s always like this, Dad, with the big cases.’ Lizzy’s voice was placating and Kate felt mean for what she had done.

‘I think she does a grand job. How’s the young girl who was attacked?’ asked Evelyn.

‘In a very bad way, Mum. She took an awful beating.’

‘I’ve seen Mandy Kelly about. She’s really pretty, with long blond hair. Her dad’s a right one, always in trouble with the police.’

‘No, he is not!’ Kate’s voice came out louder than she intended and she bit her lip.

‘He’s been under suspicion but he’s never actually been charged with anything. He’s never even had a parking ticket, young lady, so just you get your facts right!’ Her voice was jocular now and Lizzy relaxed.

‘Well, Joanie’s mum said he owns massage parlours and places like that.’

‘And massage parlours and places like that are perfectly legal, love.’

‘More’s the bloody pity.’ Evelyn’s voice was disgusted.

‘Well, that’s the law for you. He’s done nothing wrong!’

‘I think men who live off women like that should be shot.’ Dan’s voice was low and hard.

Kate felt an urge to laugh.

‘There’s other ways for men to live off women than by putting them on the game, you should know that, Dan.’ Kate sipped her wine so she wouldn’t have to look at his face.

Dan pushed his chair away from the table and went into the lounge. Kate saw Lizzy bite her lip, her face a mass of confusion. But Dan was back almost immediately with a packet of cigarettes. ‘Let’s open our presents, shall we?’

‘Oh yes, let’s. We’ve been waiting for you, Mum.’

Kate placed her knife and fork on her plate and followed everyone into the lounge.