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Back When I Was Ten Save as PDF
Chapters (79)
  1. Cover
  2. WHEN I WAS TEN
  3. Dedication page
  4. Epigraph page
  5. PROLOGUE
  6. PART ONE
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. PART TWO
  31. 24
  32. 25
  33. 26
  34. 27
  35. 28
  36. 29
  37. 30
  38. 31
  39. 32
  40. 33
  41. 34
  42. 35
  43. 36
  44. 37
  45. 38
  46. 39
  47. 40
  48. 41
  49. 42
  50. 43
  51. 44
  52. PART THREE
  53. 45
  54. 46
  55. 47
  56. 48
  57. 49
  58. 50
  59. 51
  60. 52
  61. 53
  62. 54
  63. 55
  64. 56
  65. 57
  66. 58
  67. 59
  68. 60
  69. 61
  70. 62
  71. 63
  72. 64
  73. 65
  74. 66
  75. 67
  76. 68
  77. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  78. WHEN I WAS TEN
  79. Also by Fiona Cummins

Heathcote groaned. Was there no escape from this? ‘Oh, sweet Jesus. What now? I’ve been trying to shut it down all week.’

‘Unfortunately, it’s taken on a life of its own.’ Sir Stanley outlined the facts, most of which Heathcote already knew and some he did not, including Shannon Carter’s continued television appeals for a reunion with her sister, the intensifying interest from the national press and the wide dissemination of information and speculation across all social media channels relating to his constituent. The Attorney General cleared his throat before ploughing on. ‘Not surprisingly, I’ve just taken calls from the Home Office, UKPPS and the probation team in question.’

Heathcote ran his fingers around his collar. The room had become unbearably hot. Someone should turn down the heating. Bloody ridiculous – and a waste of taxpayers’ money.

‘So what happens now?’ he said.

As the Attorney General explained in detail the costly and devastating repercussions of his slip-up on Radio 2, Heathcote forgot about dinner with his mistress, his wife waiting for him at home and the fact his American grandchildren were due to arrive for Christmas next week. Instead, he saw his political career catch fire before his eyes.

21

Catherine peered through a crack in the curtains.

Two cars squatted on the lane, their engines running. She hadn’t heard what that man had called out to her, but instinct had propelled her up the garden path and into the sanctuary of home. She could guess, though. He was a journalist, she would stake her life on it.

Oh, God.

She hurried up the stairs to check on Honor. One. Two. Three. Four. Her daughter had changed into her pyjamas and was sitting cross-legged on her bed, listening to music on her phone, exactly where Catherine had left her.

‘Mum!’ She took out her earbuds. ‘Haven’t you heard of knocking?’

Catherine offered a weak smile. It was clear Honor hadn’t moved from the bedroom. She was determined to keep it that way. ‘Sorry, love. Just saying goodnight.’

Honor proffered her forehead for a kiss. ‘Bit early, isn’t it?’

‘I don’t feel very well so I’m going to bed myself. Lights off in half an hour, OK?’

Her daughter rolled her eyes. ‘I’m not a baby.’ Then a flash of compassion. ‘I hope you feel better tomorrow. Night.’

Catherine shut Honor’s bedroom door behind her. With a bit of luck, she wouldn’t emerge until morning.