They passed a number of terraced Victorian cottages with pretty front gardens, but they soon reached the back of Andy’s larger Georgian office building with several cars parked on the tarmac. They could see that his window was still open.

‘Okay,’ Suzie said. ‘Here goes.’

Suzie pushed Judith across the tarmac, past a back door to the building, and stopped underneath Andy’s open window. As the ground on this side of the building was a little lower, the sill was higher than Suzie’s head.

‘You reckon you can get up there?’ Judith whispered.

Suzie didn’t reply for a moment. ‘Sure,’ she eventually said.

They both knew she was by no means sure. It looked far too high for her to climb through.

As for Becks, she was inside the building, introducing herself to the receptionist.

‘Good afternoon. I understand you handle family disputes, that sort of thing.’

‘We do. How can I help?’

‘Well, it’s a delicate matter, but I wondered if there was perhaps a lawyer I could talk to.’

‘Do you have an appointment?’

‘I don’t. But I’m happy to wait until someone’s free.’

‘We’ve a number of lawyers in today, but Mr Bishop’s got a gap in his schedule in half an hour.’

‘Mr Bishop?’ Becks said, suddenly unsure.

‘If you don’t mind waiting?’

Becks made herself reply brightly, ‘No, that suits me fine.’

Andy Bishop was the last person Becks wanted to see, but as she went over to the chairs in the waiting area, she reminded herself that if everything went to plan, she’d be out of the building long before she had to meet him.

‘Can I take your coat?’ the receptionist asked.

‘What’s that?’

‘It’s such a hot day, I’m sure you want to take your coat off.’

Becks’ smile froze.

‘No. I’m all right,’ she said, her hand unconsciously going to one of the pockets of her coat and touching the thick slice of bread that was wedged inside.

‘Are you sure?’

‘Quite sure, thank you.’

The receptionist looked at Becks askance. She could tell that something was ‘off’ with Becks but couldn’t work out what it was.

‘Okay, but if you change your mind, you only have to say.’

‘Thank you. Although, can I ask, do you by any chance have a loo I could use?’

Becks knew the whole plan hinged on the answer the receptionist was about to give.

‘Yes, straight through that door there,’ the receptionist said, pointing at a door to the side of a rather grand staircase. ‘It’s at the end of the corridor.’

‘Thanks,’ Becks said, her heart thumping.

She headed through the door. Now she’d given the receptionist the slip, she had to find the office’s kitchenette. After all, as Suzie had told them, all offices had kitchenettes, didn’t they?

Outside in the car park, Judith and Suzie were beginning to panic.