Zara’s natural curiosity got the better of her. ‘Did they say anything that you can recall?’

He shook his head. ‘Nothing at all. Maybe, when I’m fully better, something might come back to me. Dad keeps asking all the time. He’s desperate to track ’em down. I’m worried though, Zara. I really don’t want him to get hurt. You know what he’s like. It’s an eye for an eye – or worse, with him. I can see the anger in his eyes. He won’t rest until he knows who did it.’ Suddenly, his face looked pale and full of sorrow.

‘What’s up, Ricky? Do you feel unwell?’ She panicked.

‘No, it’s just I feel so guilty.’

‘Why?’

‘Because I’m alive, and Kendall . . . well, she was adorable, ya know. I liked her such a lot. She didn’t deserve that.’

Zara leaned forward and hugged him. ‘I know, darling, I know. But you need to get better, and then you may think of something that’ll help the police capture the men who did it. So, you just concentrate on your recovery.’

‘The police?’ Ricky shook his head. ‘Dad’s working with them. He’s going to pin down this gang anyway—’ Suddenly, he stopped.

He thought he’d said too much. Dad had told him about the mission when they were in prison, but it was on the understanding that he was never to disclose what they’d discussed outside the firm. And he’d made it very clear that Zara wasn’t to know either because he didn’t want her to worry.

‘What?’ Her tone became more serious.

‘Nothing, Zara. Sorry, I get confused.’

She knew then she shouldn’t press him and have him worrying unnecessarily.

‘Well, listen, babe, you just get better, and once you’re up, perhaps we’ll go for a nice meal somewhere special.’

‘Yeah, I’d like that.’

She kissed him once more and left. Her mind was on what Ricky had let slip. That was until she saw Mike with his arm around a nurse. She was giggling and obviously flirting. Mike didn’t see Zara right away. He was still talking earnestly and laughing. Then the nurse stopped and faced him. She was twiddling a strand of hair that had come loose from her ponytail. Gazing into Mike’s eyes, she was oblivious to any potential bystander. In fact, she was giving it all she had in the flirting department. But Mike, it appeared to Zara, wasn’t so shy himself; he was nodding and intently listening to the nurse. As she watched the scene play out in front of her, Zara’s heart was in her mouth.

Then, as if Mike sensed the presence of someone, he turned and froze, his eyes wide in utter disbelief. Zara! Oh shit!