‘No, I’m sorry, you are right, this is number 49. I don’t go by the name Mrs Stevens anymore, though…’ she tailed off, then cleared her throat. ‘You’re not selling anything are you? Only I’ve got a sign up that says I don’t answer to sales people, and—’

‘No, Mrs Stevens, it’s me, Matt.’ He arranged his face into a smile. ‘Tim’s old friend, remember?’

Her eyes widened once more, and for a fraction of a second – so quick it was barely even there – Matt thought he saw something like fear dart across her face. Then she was smiling again.

‘Oh Matt, of course! I thought I recognised you but it’s been such a long time, and I wasn’t…’ She trailed off again and her eyes flicked past him to the road behind, as though she was checking to make sure he was alone.

‘Of course, no worries at all,’ smiled Matt. ‘Sorry to turn up like this out of the blue, only I was back home for the weekend and I thought I’d pop by to see if Tim was about.’

Mrs Stevens looked doubtfully at Matt’s sopping hair and rain-soaked jeans. ‘Oh, have you spoken to Tim then?’

‘No, nothing like that,’ said Matt. ‘I haven’t spoken to him in a little while, actually, but as I was down I thought I’d swing by to see if he was around. I know he sometimes comes home for the weekend, and I just…’

Matt forced himself to stop talking. Despite the cold and the rain, his back felt hot. He was rambling, speaking too much, and from the look on Mrs Stevens’ face he was doing little to convince her. He took a breath, then counted to three in his head. Then he laughed.

‘Sorry, I’m waffling,’ he smiled. ‘The truth is, I was feeling a bit bad. I haven’t seen Tim in ages, and the last time he phoned me I missed his call. I’ve tried ringing him a couple of times since to arrange something, but I can never seem to get through. I knew it was a bit of a long shot, but I thought I’d pop round seeing as I was home for the weekend. I’m guessing I’ve missed him again, though?’

Mrs Stevens still wasn’t smiling, but the look of doubt had gone from her face. ‘I’m afraid he’s not down this weekend, Matt, no. I think he’s based up at some firm in Edinburgh at the moment, although he’s so busy I lose track.’

Matt grinned. ‘I know the feeling. Since everybody started work we don’t seem to see each other half as much as we used to.’

Mrs Stevens smiled back, and Matt saw his opening.