She was no different now. It was six years since Charles had told her about his half-brother, and whilst Charles had not really mentioned Ray since, other than to say that he believed all was well, Grace had remained intrigued. Was Ray happy in his new house? Had he managed to keep on the straight and narrow or was he, even now, planning his next heist? Grace visualised a house, the walls papered in the tissue-thin blueprints of a bank, the positions of all the CCTV cameras clearly marked and an escape route drawn in red. She knew this was unlikely. Even if Ray was still embroiled in his life of crime, he would probably be a little bit more discreet about his intentions. In any case, she was still curious as to how his life was unfolding.

Grace also wondered about the house itself. Charles had bought it, but she was certain that it would have been money that she brought to the marriage that had paid for it. Surely she was entitled to a little look at her investment? It was only fair.

Now the children were both at school during the day, Grace was far less busy than she had been. She would have time, she calculated, to drop Hector and Clio off in the morning, drive to Whitley Bay, locate the house and still be waiting at the school gate when the children bounded back out. All she wanted was to have a peek, to see the house that they owned and then come back home with her curiosity sated. Where was the harm in that?

Grace dressed with care. She didn’t want to look out of place or draw any attention to herself. She picked out plain clothes in dark, conservative colours, nothing extravagant or unusual. She wasn’t intending to speak to anyone, but she didn’t want to provoke comment either. And she would go in the Volvo, not the Mercedes. Grace didn’t know much about Whitley Bay except what she saw on the news. The place looked to be a bit on its uppers, a mecca for stag and hen parties and, if the local news was to be believed, many a night out there ended up in a fight. She could only imagine Ray’s financial position, but if she turned up looking like the lady of the manor she might turn a few unwelcome heads.