He looked past her and down the hallway before his eyes met hers. ‘Look, have I upset you in any way? You just upped and left the minute I was out of the house, and I haven’t seen you since. I’ve called a few times, but, obviously, there was no answer. What’s going on?’ He looked over her shoulder again.

She made no effort to step aside and invite him in; instead, she just smiled again. ‘Oh, nothing’s going on. It was good of you to let me stay at your house, but it was just a temporary arrangement, wasn’t it? I just needed to be sure that I wouldn’t have to face a load of awkward questions from the police. It looks, though, as it turns out, Jackie hasn’t pressed any charges.’

Looking flustered and agitated, Eric said, ‘How d’ya know that?’

‘Mike told me.’

‘When did you speak with Mike? I thought you two were . . . ’ He knew he sounded too eager. ‘I just assumed you weren’t talking.’

‘Yes, well. Look, I’m pretty busy at the moment, so do you mind if we talk later? I’ve a lot to do.’

Eric fidgeted on the spot. ‘Why don’t you let me help?’

She inclined her head and frowned. ‘I’m not doing housework, Eric. I’m sorting out business.’ Her tone was firm and cold.

Not taking the hint, Eric went on to say, ‘Yes, but I can help, Zara. I ain’t a stranger to business. Christ, I run my own well enough.’

‘Yes, but I don’t need your help. And, Eric, I don’t mix business with pleasure. I’m sure you mean well, but I like to handle stuff my own way. It’s not as if I’ve asked for your help, is it?’

Eric leaned against the wall with one arm and shook his head. ‘Well, you certainly needed it in the past. Anyway, what’s so special about the Lanigans?’

Now annoyed at his mocking attitude, Zara gave a false laugh. ‘You’re partly right. Obviously, I’m grateful for everything you did to secure my release. Without your help and your family’s, I don’t know what my future would have been. But the Lanigans are my business partners and still are . . . Look, I’m sorry, but now I’ve made myself clear enough regarding the Lanigans, I would prefer it from now on if you just kept out of my affairs entirely. Sorry, if that sounds ungrateful for your concern earlier, but I need to get my life back on track.’

The thought of Neil Lanigan sucking up to Zara made Eric seethe with anger.

It was the age-old problem with Eric, and if his mum had been a fly on the wall at this point, she would have predicted what would happen next. In fact, she would have been spot-on.