The sun was beginning to set as the train drew into Lime Street. Kitty knew she should have thought of this but she’d just missed the previous train when saying farewell to Laura and had had to wait for the next one. She’d taken her book to the buffet, and to her relief it had emptied out a little and she’d found a corner in which to pass the time.

At least it wasn’t like groping around in the dark down in Sussex. There were plenty of people about as she slowly descended the steps and began to head towards the bus stop. Her mind was whirring with what Laura had had to say. Was this peculiar note Freddy’s way of making contact after all this time, or was her friend deluding herself, because she’d wanted it so badly for so long?

She was wandering along at the edge of the pavement when a car pulled up just ahead of her, almost against the kerb. The driver got out and came around the back of the vehicle, and she saw with a start that it was Alfie Delaney. She’d heard he was back but hadn’t seen him. Tommy had been right – his head was a bit like a snooker ball.

‘Kitty Callaghan, as I live and breathe,’ he said, his smile wide and seemingly friendly. ‘What brings you out at this time of the evening? Off to meet your boyfriend, are you?’

When she was younger, Kitty might have blushed and admitted that she didn’t have one. She had an idea that this was exactly what Alfie would have liked her to do. Instead she turned to look at the car and then back at him. ‘Didn’t know you had a car, Alfie,’ she said.

‘Oh, you know me, Kitty, I can get my hands on most things I want if I try,’ he replied, still keeping it friendly, but Kitty could tell there was an edge to what he said, even if he was trying to hide it. ‘Are you heading back to Bootle? Fancy a lift?’ He moved swiftly to the passenger side door and opened it.

If it had been just about anyone else, Kitty would have jumped at the chance. The evening was cooling rapidly and she’d only brought a light cardigan as she hadn’t expected to be out so late. She drew it round her, but its lack of warmth wasn’t enough to persuade her to accept his offer. Even in the dull twilight, the car didn’t look in great shape. Being stuck with Alfie Delaney in a broken-down vehicle miles from home was all she needed.

‘Thank you, but I’m going to meet a friend,’ she said firmly.