Cassie accepted that without argument. "I am a little bothered about something else though."
"What's that?"
"I want to know what our Frank has been getting up to when he tells his good lady he's off eyeing birds during the wee small hours. Something tells me they aren't the same birds he's describing to Marjorie."
Tamara watched as a wry smile crossed Cassie's face and she struggled to contain one of her own.
Chapter Ten
Tom Janssen pulled up in the driveway of Alice's house. Switching off the engine, he sat back in his seat, pressing his head against the rest. How many times had he been the one to deliver news like this? Too many. But never had he had to break it to someone he was close to. Whom he loved. It felt very different. He considered himself to be an empathetic man, always feeling the pull of the raw emotion that the next of kin would invariably be feeling when learning of a loved one's death. This was different. Alice could take it. She was strong, but Saffy, quite understandably, would be utterly devastated. Placing the heels of his palms to his eyes, he pressed firmly, feeling the beginnings of a stress headache. It was best to get it over with.
Getting out he approached the front door, exhaling deeply as he unlocked it and walked in. Russell heard him first, appearing from the kitchen and excitedly yapping to greet him. His coat was in his hand and by the time he'd hung it on the rack next to the door, Alice was before him, standing in the kitchen doorway. She had an inquisitive look on her face.
"You're home early."
He smiled weakly and walked towards her. Something in his expression must have tipped her off because her warm smile faded as he approached.
"What is it?" she asked.
Tom reached out and took her hands in his, pursing his lips. He couldn't hold her eye, staring at his feet. This was harder than he'd have ever imagined.
"I'm sorry."
"Tom, you're scaring me."
He looked up, taking a deep breath only for Saffy to appear from behind her mother, pushing past her and in between them. Tom released his grip on Alice's hands and stepped back, smiling down at the little girl.
"Tom!" she said, holding her arms aloft. He lowered himself down and she jumped into his arms. He lifted her up and she placed both hands on either cheek, grinning at him. Her hands were soft and felt warm. She was still dressed in her pyjamas.
"Hey, Munchkin," he said, returning her smile. "What are you doing here? I thought you'd be at school."
"She wasn't feeling well this morning. Upset stomach."
"Is that right?" Tom said, focussing on Saffy in his arms. She seemed upbeat enough now. Alice must have read his mind.
"It seemed like the right thing to keep her off for the day. Seems better now, though."
The smile left Saffy's face and she ran a hand through her hair which seemed to be growing curlier by the day.
"I think my tummy hurts a bit again," she said, laying on her apparent weakened state in her tone.
"I am sorry to hear that," Tom said with a frown and emphasised seriousness. "What do you think might make you feel better?"
"I'm not sure," Saffy said, twirling her hair with one hand and looking upwards as she thought through the possibilities. "Ice cream?"
Tom shook his head. "I'm not sure that's a good idea."
"Erm… biscuits?"
"Not a chance, young lady," Alice said. Tom kissed the girl on the forehead and lowered her back to the floor. "Why don't you go back to the sofa and get under the blanket."
Tom could hear the television now. The voices sounded familiar but he couldn't place which cartoon she was currently streaming. Saffy looked up at Tom and smiled again, turning to her mother and delivering a frown to convey her frustration at not getting what she wanted before scurrying back through the dining area and into the living room. Alice reached out and took Tom's forearm. Now it was her turn to show concern.
"Tom, is everything okay?"
Tom cast an eye in Saffy's direction, as if he could see through the wall between the hall and the living room. They moved into the kitchen and Alice pushed the door to, ensuring Saffy wouldn't overhear what they were saying.
"What is it?"
"I've just come from Adrian's place."
"Ade's? Why ever have you been there?" she said, but her tone didn't suggest surprise to him. There was something else there but he ignored it. This was hard enough as it is.
"I'm sorry, Alice," he said, glancing sideways to make sure Saffy hadn't moved from her place on the sofa. "Adrian… he was killed yesterday."
Alice's face dropped. For a second that was the only reaction, as if she hadn't properly heard what he'd just said. Then her eyes fluttered and her entire body appeared to shake. He stepped forward to catch her, thinking she was about to faint but she took a half-step away from him, reaching out and steadying herself with one hand on the kitchen worktop. She looked up at him, seemingly searching his face to see if he was telling the truth.
"Are you… I mean, are you sure it's Ade?"
He nodded. "I'm sure. We found him in his house this morning. It's not official yet but, we're sure."
Alice took a deep breath, struggling to do so as she inhaled in ragged draws, her body constricting when she needed it to relax. Turning away from him, she placed her free hand on the worktop alongside the other and leaned over, trying to calm herself.
"My god. Poor Saffy," she said, looking to her right through the glass panes of the door, and into where her daughter was, happily snuggled under a
