‘Thanks!’ I slid out quickly.

‘And I look forward to working with you on the street party.’

This was the moment to say I couldn’t do it: to ask him to pass on my apologies to Nella…

We stared at each other for what seemed like an age, until a sudden movement behind me said Zach had stomped off down the road.

‘Yes, me too,’ I said to Marcus, shutting the car door.

I hurried to catch Zach up for the walk back home. ‘Why were you with Willow’s dad?’ he muttered.

‘I had a flat tyre, so he gave me a lift.’ I tried to put my arm through my son’s – but his was rigid. ‘He mentioned that internship for you again.’

Ahead, Rocky dribbled the ball between bollards and dog crap, largely hitting it all.

‘An internship? What’s that?’

‘You know what it is, you wally! A chance to work for someone really good. Could be amazing, couldn’t it?’ I suddenly wanted to smile broadly. ‘I think he’s got your best interests at heart, Zachy.’ The ball thumped into the fence beside us. ‘Blimey, Rocky! Listen, if I buy you both a takeaway for tea, will you lads go and change the tyre for me? It’s up near the shop.’

‘Why can’t you?’ Zach was about to suck his teeth, and then didn’t quite dare. Had he just seen Jonny’s face in his own head; his granddad Glenmore?

‘You’re so good at things like that, Zachy.’

But his face said even flattery would get me nowhere today.

Truth was, I just wanted to get home to my phone as quickly as possible to ring to ask: ‘Are you all right?’

To ask, more to the point, Who were you with?

Because what the hell had Melissa been doing in that alley? And, even more curious, had she been following some man, as I suspected?

Ruby

After my still grumpy son helped change my tyre, we stopped at Melissa’s on the way home.

‘I’m staying in the van. Can I borrow your phone for the hotspot?’ he mumbled, and I passed it over as I got out.

‘Melissa’s not here, I don’t think.’ Ceci, in a shabby old parka and green scrubs, answered the door. ‘I only just got in myself.’

Cecilia had a Saturday job at the local vet’s; she wanted to be one, as far as I knew.

‘Right.’ I tried not to crane round the girl to check. ‘I thought I saw her earlier – do you know where she is? She’s not answering her phone.’

‘At the gym, I think. Do you want to see my dad?’

‘Oh no.’ My stomach flipped. I definitely didn’t want to see Rex right now. ‘Well – will you tell her I called please, Ces?’

‘Sure. Um. Does – do you think…’ Cecilia stopped, suddenly flustered.

‘Do I think what, lovie?’

‘Does Zach want to come and play The Witcher?’ Her words came out in a tumble.

I glanced at the van, but Zach was messing around with both our phones.