Clare was still feeling more than a tinge of guilt over the way she’d treated Crabby when he’d turned up on-site to apologise to them earlier in the day. So by way of a peace offering, but in truth to salve her conscience, she’d asked him to join her and Jo for dinner in the King’s Arms. The restaurant had been packed so the landlord had asked them if they’d mind eating in the bar. Clare had her suspicions that the request might have had more to do with Crabby’s biker’s leathers than a sudden run on tables. But as Crabby seemed relieved by the suggestion she didn’t argue the point. And she and Jo had passed a surprisingly enjoyable evening with him.

Jo stood up. ‘Can I get you a beer?’

Crabby said, ‘A pint of cider would go down a treat.’

As Jo made her way to the bar, Crabby leant towards Clare and whispered conspiratorially, ‘You know, I had my doubts about young Jo when she first came here. We get a lot of Yanks ’ereabouts, and I can’t always say I care for ’em much. But she’s not like most of ’em, is she? She’s alright.’

Clare laughed. ‘There’s no denying she’s a one-off. But you know she really is an expert’ – Clare hesitated, choosing her words carefully – ‘in what she does.’

Crabby nodded furiously. ‘Oh aye. I could see that right enough. The way she handled those little ’uns. To tell you the truth, Clare, it wasn’t at all what I thought it’d be like. I’ve never been too sure about your lot digging folks up before.’

She asked, ‘But you’ve changed your mind now?’

‘Well, let’s just say I’m open to persuasion. It was what you said to that pillock yesterday. You know, when you said about giving the children voices.’

‘I meant it, Crabby. It’s why I love this job so much. It’s not about the stuff we dig up; it’s all about the people.’

He nodded. ‘Was that why you got so mad about those holes the metal detectorists dug?’

Clare looked up, surprised. She hadn’t realised the metal detectorists’ pits were common knowledge. She certainly hadn’t said anything to Crabby about it.

Her astonishment must have shown, because by way of explanation he said, ‘Neil told me. Said you were worried it might have destroyed stuff on the site.’

Before she could say anything, Jo returned and distributed their drinks. For a few minutes they sat in companionable silence. But Clare noticed that Crabby wasn’t making much headway with his cider, and instead was shuffling his glass round and round on its beer mat.

Eventually she said, ‘Is something troubling you, Crabby?’