‘Well, as far as I can gather, they think Bert fell asleep with a lighted cigarette. I know he was a pig, but to die like that . . . His face was twisted up in torment, it was terrible. Skin was burnt off the bone in some places. He died in agony, Joey, mortal agony.’

Joseph put his arm around his sister.

George had heard everything and smiled to himself. Then he began to giggle out loud.

He ran out into the road, and holding out his arms began to spin round and round like a whirling dervish, until he fell, dizzy and exhilarated, on to the pavement.

He lay there in the wet, his mind reeling. He had a secret.

Edith knelt beside him and he smiled up at her. His secret smile that just showed his teeth.

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

Kate went for a bath at seven thirty. She put plenty of bubble bath in the water and lay back, letting the hot water seep into her bones. Her long hair was pinned on top of her head and her face scrubbed free of make-up. She closed her eyes tightly. She was really feeling this case.

Earlier Lizzy had tried on all her finery and Kate had watched her twirling around the tiny lounge and suddenly felt as if a hand had gripped her heart. Supposing this man, this murderer, took her daughter and did to her what he had done to Mandy Kelly and Geraldine O’Leary? She pushed the thoughts from her mind. Nothing was going to happen to Lizzy. Kate would make sure of that. With luck Mandy Kelly would recover. She was a fighter, that much was evident.

Kate pushed her shoulders under the water. Her skin had erupted in goose pimples and it wasn’t because of the cold. She closed her eyes again. She had fought hammer and tongs to get Christmas Day off, and all Lizzy had time for was her father.

Dan did look well, though. After dinner one of Lizzy’s friends had come round. Joanie of the acne and the braying laugh. Kate chastised herself. What on earth was the matter with her? Poor Joanie was a nice girl. But the worshipful look she had given Dan had annoyed her. It wasn’t fair the way Dan affected women . . .

She heard the bathroom door open and smiled. Lizzy with a nice glass of wine, or better still a cup of coffee. She opened one eye and sat up in the bath with shock, water going everywhere.

‘What do you want?’ Her voice was a loud whisper.

She crossed her arms across her breasts.