‘Thanks! Yes, I’ve been running a few times a week and it’s been great! How’s everything with you?’

Claire tried not to notice that Linda didn’t return the compliment. She didn’t blame her. She wondered if Linda would ask why she was in jeans and a T-shirt on a weekday.

‘I’m good. You know, busy…’ Claire trailed off and Linda threw her a look of sympathy.

‘Full on with the boys and work?’ guessed Linda.

If only you knew. ‘Yep – it never stops!’ lied Claire.

‘Time for a chat?’ asked Linda, indicating a free table.

‘Why not?’ agreed Claire.

‘Great – give me a minute – I’ll just get my coffee and join you.’

As Claire walked to the table, she saw Linda take out her phone and type a message before ordering. Claire sank down into the chair and closed her eyes, grateful for a minute to breathe. She opened them as soon as she heard the chair opposite her move and smiled at Linda as she sat down.

‘So, how are things?’ asked Linda, removing the lid from her coffee. As the two of them chatted, Claire felt herself slip into the role of the woman Linda knew before: a working mum whose only challenges ranged from getting home on time to what to put into a lunch box. Nowhere in the conversation did she mention her argument with Chris or the worry about her son being named as part of an investigation. And by the end of the twenty minutes, Claire almost believed it herself, but then Linda brought up Chris.

Linda had been talking about bumping into him outside his office. It wasn’t a huge surprise, Chris worked in the Trident Square building, which was round the corner from Linda’s office, a fact Linda had shared when she’d first gone round to her house for breakfast. It was one of those coincidences that pleased both women, keen to have something in common. As Linda talked, Claire assumed Linda was referring to bumping into him a few weeks ago. It was only when she discovered that it had been that morning that Claire queried her.

‘This morning? You sure?’ asked Claire.

‘Yes, just as I was walking into the office. I waved but I don’t think he saw me to be honest. He seemed busy on his phone.’ Linda shrugged, the matter clearly of little interest to her.

‘You must have been mistaken, Chris is in Germany – he flew last night.’

‘Oh probably,’ replied Linda a little too quickly. ‘I was rushing – just like I usually am!’ But her laughter was forced and after Linda had made her excuses to get back to the office and Claire had said her goodbyes, Claire continued to sit in the coffee shop watching Linda’s retreating back until it could no longer be seen.

*