More immediately distracting was the sight of an ambulance, blue light flashing, parked in the slot outside her house. Esther quickly pulled into a space opposite and hopped out of the car. In the same instant, Carmela’s door flew open and two paramedics emerged carrying a stretcher bearing someone who was clearly her elderly neighbour, despite the blanket pulled up to her neck and oxygen mask covering her face. The motorcyclist with whom she had almost collided that morning was at their heels, tugging anxiously on his beard as he talked animatedly into his phone.

Esther paused halfway down her path, wanting to express concern, but awkward at the realisation of how little she knew of a woman who had lived just a few yards from her for almost two years. That Carmela had to be in her seventies, owned an intimidating cat, and liked to shove her wheelie bin into Esther’s corner of their shared allocated space seemed suddenly a pitiful sum total of knowledge. She ventured a glance of sympathy at the biker, who promptly hurdled the little rusty wire fence separating the properties and strode towards her. He was in black jeans, ripped above one knee in a way that didn’t look quite intended, and a shapeless white T-shirt. He was clearly panic-stricken, his dark eyes darting.

‘Whatever has happened, I’m so sorry…’ Esther began, faltering as he shook his head grimly.

‘Stroke and a heart attack, they reckon. It’s taken them an hour to stabilise her. I’m just glad I was on a visit. My work takes me away, so I can’t come often. She’s my aunt.’ He spoke at speed, throwing a dazed look at the ambulance, now having its rear doors opened. ‘One minute she was perfectly fine – I was just going to the corner shop for some groceries – next thing I know… could I ask a favour, do you think?’

‘Of course. Anything.’

‘The cat. Would you mind keeping an eye out for it? I’m not sure exactly when I’ll be back, and she was worried because apparently it didn’t show up for breakfast. There’s a flap, so he comes and goes as he pleases. I’ve left food down. What he loves best of all is milk, but she’d run out and—’

‘Cat. Milk. No problem.’

‘Amazing.’ The ambulance doors were slamming. ‘You’ll need these. They’re spares.’ He tossed a set of keys at her. ‘I’m Marcus, by the way.’

‘Esther. But I’m going away,’ Esther cried, only just remembering her holiday. ‘Not until tomorrow evening though,’ she added quickly, as his eyes flared with dismay. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll get Dimitri and Sue to help out. They’re on the other side.’ She shook the keys in the direction of her partying neighbours, where the musical soundtrack had thankfully receded to a muffled thump. ‘They’re really nice.’