He tore open the boxes to reveal a barbell and set of weights. Kneeling on the carpet, he screwed a weight to each end of the barbell, then lifted it above his head.

Kirsty applauded. ‘It’s Mr Universe!’

‘That’s right. Bullies will no longer kick sand in my face!’ He paused. ‘Actually this is hurting my arms.’

Kirsty laughed.

He put the weights down and knelt beside her. ‘How are you feeling? Any better?’

‘Not really. I still feel really tired, as if I’ve sprung a leak and all my energy has ebbed away.’

‘Poor Kirsty.’ He stroked her hair, then turned back to his weights. ‘So what do you think? There are a couple of smaller, single-handed ones which I thought you could use. And I’ve ordered a rowing machine as well. I thought I might start swimming again as well. I haven’t been for ages.’

Kirsty coughed. ‘I’m not really in the mood to talk about physical exercise right now.’

‘So you don’t want to go to bed then?’ He winked at her and she groaned and covered her face with a cushion. Whenever she was ill, Jamie became even more libidinous. His theory was that it was because she seemed so vulnerable, lying there sniffling: his primeval instincts came out and he wanted to carry her off to his cave.

‘Lemsip?’ he asked, putting thoughts of passion aside.

‘Yes please.’

He went into the kitchen and saw the chunk of ginger sitting on the worktop, untouched. ‘What’s this?’ he asked, going back out to Kirsty.

‘That’s root ginger. Mary came down earlier and gave it to me. She said it would cure my flu.’

‘And have you taken any?’

‘No, of course not. How’s that going to help me? I’ll stick with my Lemsips, thanks.’

Jamie tutted. ‘You should try it, Kirsty. What do we have to do with it?’ She explained the process. ‘Right, I’ll make you a cup.’

After Jamie had strained the ginger, he carried it out to Kirsty. She sniffed it and pulled a face, but then took a sip. ‘It’s foul.’

‘Come on, drink it.’

He knelt beside her and stroked her hair as she sipped it, screwing up her face in with distaste. ‘So what was Mary doing down here? Did she hear you coughing and blowing your nose and come down to offer you her miracle cure?’

‘No, she came down to ask if I’ve seen her cat. It’s gone missing.’

‘Lennon? Oh no. When did she last see him?’

‘Sunday, I think she said.’

Jamie scratched his head. ‘Oh. Because I saw him on Sunday. Lucy had him. I saw her carry him into her flat.’

‘Lucy?’

He stood up. ‘I’d better go and tell Mary.’

‘What was Lucy doing with him?’

He shrugged. ‘I’ll see you in a minute.’