Andrea had been slight as a child too. Arms and legs like sticks. The kids at school called her Skinny Minnie. Not in a kind way. In her late teenage years, she’d packed on the weight as she tried to get her body to fill out, but it appeared in all the wrong places and she constantly felt out of proportion. Thankfully though, by the time she’d reached her thirties, she’d finally settled into her body shape. Accepted her petite form for what it was. Now the only time she ever looked curvy was when she ate something that didn’t agree with her and her stomach became bloated and poked out like a beach ball.

‘Is it good?’ Andrea asked as Violet ate slowly and neatly, making sure to chew with her mouth closed. She had better table manners than Andrea’s sixteen-year-old niece.

Violet swallowed and gave her a big smile. ‘Really yummy,’ she said. ‘Want some?’

‘Nope, I’m good. That plate is all for you, my dear.’ Andrea paused. ‘Did Mum say what time she’d be back?’

Violet looked up at the clock on the wall, her face a picture of concentration. Eventually she said, ‘Little hand on the six.’

‘Six o’clock?’ Andrea looked at her own watch. It was almost six. ‘Okay, so she’s supposed to be home any minute now. I’ll stay with you until she gets here though, okay?’

Almost immediately she heard the sound of a key in the lock and she swung around to face the door.

‘What are you doing here?’

‘Checking on Violet,’ Andrea said, standing.

‘Well there’s no need. I was only around the corner picking up some groceries.’

Andrea’s eyes flicked to the bag her neighbour was holding. It looked as though the only ‘groceries’ she’d bought were bottles of alcohol.

Heather clocked her looking. ‘The rest is in the car, Miss Detective. My driver is bringing them up.’ She stepped back to the door and opened it wide. ‘Thanks, but you can go now.’

Andrea glanced back at Violet, gave her a quick, warm smile and then headed for the door. When she reached Heather, she paused briefly and leaned in. ‘I’m keeping an eye on you,’ she whispered.

Heather reached out and grabbed her arm, fake nails digging into Andrea’s skin. ‘Stay away from my daughter.’ Her voice was a harsh hiss.

Andrea wrenched her arm free and swung back around to call out to Violet in as cheerful a voice as possible. ‘Lovely to see you, honey. I’ll see you again soon.’