Thank you, Suzie mouthed, but Becks pretended not to notice. She was too busy playing the role of a distressed wife. As soon as she closed the door behind herself, Suzie dashed across to the back window and was relieved to see that, now the coast was clear, Judith had returned to her position. Suzie chucked her handbag down, Judith put it on her lap, and then Suzie climbed out of the window and onto the back of the wheelchair, before once again using Judith’s head as scaffolding to help her get down.

As Suzie pushed Judith away, she realised that her knees were shaking.

It had been nip and tuck, but they’d done it. They’d managed to break into Andy’s office and steal the shredded paper!

Chapter 24

The plan was for the three women to rendezvous back at Judith’s house, but when Judith and Suzie got there, there was no sign of Becks – not that Suzie much cared.

‘We did it!’ she said as she dumped the handbag of shredded paper onto Judith’s card table.

‘We did, didn’t we?’ Judith said with quiet satisfaction.

‘Although we so nearly got caught!’

‘But we weren’t, and that’s what matters,’ Judith said as she sat down at the table and began oh-so-carefully removing the shredded paper from the handbag.

‘Me in particular. I mean, why did I go back to Andy Bishop’s desk like that? I should have got out when I could.’

‘Well, no harm done.’

‘I mean, what an idiot!’

‘Not a bit of it. We got away with it, and that’s what matters.’

‘But that’s me all over, isn’t it?’ Suzie said, self-doubt entering her voice. ‘I never think things through.’

Judith could see that her friend’s ebullient mood was crashing.

‘What’s that?’

‘I’m too impetuous, that’s the problem.’

‘What on earth are you talking about? You did brilliantly.’

‘But I didn’t, did I? I wanted to look at his computer, so that’s what I did. When I should have just got out, like we’d agreed. I didn’t consider the consequences. To me, or to you or Becks. I never think of others.’

‘I don’t agree with that at all.’

‘My daughter Rachel’s right. I only ever think of myself.’

As she said this, Suzie subsided onto Judith’s sofa.

‘That’s not true.’

Suzie was lost in her memories, too downhearted to continue the conversation.

‘And what does your other daughter say?’ Judith asked, trying to lift Suzie out of her gloom.

‘I wouldn’t know, I’ve not spoken to Amy in over a year.’

‘Why ever not?’

‘We fell out.’

‘Oh. I see. Then why don’t you pick up the phone to her?’

‘I can’t,’ Suzie said, the logic of her situation unassailable. ‘We’re not talking.’