‘Why?’ she asked, feeling utterly bewildered. Had she imagined their connection? They were so right for each other.

‘I can’t explain,’ he replied flatly. ‘You wouldn’t believe me, and you wouldn’t understand even if you did.’

‘Try me,’ she said, wiping her eyes. She felt exposed and foolish in the short tea dress she’d worn to showcase her legs. She tucked them further under the table.

‘I can’t,’ he replied, and she was gratified to see a flicker of pain cross his face. This wasn’t as easy for him as he was trying to pretend. ‘I wish I could, but I can’t.’

Harri couldn’t wipe the tears fast enough. She had her back to the other customers and was glad to be spared the embarrassment of strangers seeing her break down. Her pain reached him and his demeanour softened.

‘A friend is ill,’ Ben explained. ‘I have to be there for her.’

Her? Who was this ‘her’ that was taking him away?

‘I’ll wait,’ Harri suggested. ‘Please don’t do this. Don’t throw this away. I know you feel the same way as me. I just know it.’

For a moment it looked as though he might cry, and then the cold shutters came down and he composed himself.

‘I love you, Harri.’

This wasn’t supposed to be how it went. Had he really just told her he loved her as he was breaking up with her? She should have been elated, but instead felt a cold knife in her heart, twisting and turning, hollowing her out.

‘I love you too,’ she said pathetically. ‘I don’t understand. Please don’t do this.’

She was sobbing now.

‘I’m sorry, but I can’t be with you. Not now. One day you might understand.’

He stood and leaned down to kiss her forehead. She held his arm pathetically.

‘I’m sorry. I really am.’

He pulled his arm away and then was gone.

She sat at that table alone in the middle of a crowd, crying, trying to make sense of what had just happened, but there was no explanation to be found. Eventually her thoughts turned in on herself.

What’s wrong with me?

Why didn’t he want me?

Why don’t I deserve love?

Extract from the court report of R v. Elmys

GRACE OYEWOLE QC for the defendant

So, Mr Elmys broke off your relationship a year before you started investigating him?

HARRIET KEALTY

Yes.

GRACE OYEWOLE QC

And yet you felt it appropriate to proceed with an investigation for which you had no official authority? Not even a private commission.

ROGER SUMPTION QC for the Crown Prosecution Service

It is my turn to rise and remind my learned friend of the rules.

HIS HONOUR JUDGE THOMAS

I see no reason for you to be on your feet. The question is pertinent to the matter at hand.

GRACE OYEWOLE QC

Thank you, my Lord.

HARRIET KEALTY

I was worried about the child. If Mr Elmys had a role in what happened to the boy’s parents . . .