Page 9 (2/2)

‘Not a lot but I think e do is pretty vital’

‘It is Believe rees, I suppose’

‘He’ll coone off to bed to read PG Wodehouse which, as you know, is his custouilty’

‘Don’t be ridiculous Tell me more about the cathedral I love tales of internecine strife’

Cat laughed ‘But it is gri walked over It isn’t just hurt pride or jostling for position, Judith, it goes a lot deeper than that I don’t kno anyone can be so insensitive and it’s odd because when youat all – he seeentle, he listens Unlike his wife But I hate to see David Lester so upset It’s affecting the ht’

‘The Dean isn’t trying to close down St Michael’s Singers surely?’

‘No, no, he can’t do that – we’re not part of the cathedral organisation I don’t think hebut that’s his problem I dare say he thinks it’s elitist and not relevant But no, it’s the cathedral e, and hshod over everyone’

‘Can he?’

‘Pretty much It is the Dean and Chapter, of course, and there are still several fro all the way But there are others – Canon Hurley for instance – he caether before …’ Cat got up and wandered restlessly round the kitchen ‘I suppose so else to change, especially not so so important The cathedral is oes then anything can’

‘I reed the tiround was shifting under my feet Sounds ridiculous now but that was how I felt, needing the television news to be where it always had been Bereavement makes you very insecure’

‘I have to sort out what is ie at St Michael’s, I need to decide which I care about enough to fight for and which to let go’

‘Priorities, yes’

Cat went and put her ar, you see? You help s out If you went away for a year …’

‘Yes, darling, I do know Well, it’s fine because we’re not going’

‘But Dad …’

‘You leave Richard to ot ready for bed, Cat realised that it was true, she could leave her father to Judith It was one thing she no longer had to worry about and it was a change she welco to the wind in the trees, wanting to still her angry thoughts about the cathedral and her anxious thoughts about Sa away for a year, and was unable to quieten any of the, exhausting war of attrition It was a long time before she slept

Fifteen

Leslie Blade slowed as he turned onto Wharf Lane So here, sometimes by the row of boarded-up shops further on, and he could park on the service road It was a disone bankrupt There was notin work, so the shops would stay as they were, the bookies, the hairdresser’s, the launderette, the corner stores, the butcher’s, all closed and covered in posters and graffiti Even the charity shop had gone He was later than usual His ht for a check on her pace to Bevhain to prepare the food until gone ten o’clock He had almost lost heart and stayed at hoht the food, the bread was fresh, and besides, they would ht for the Reachout van and the weather had turned colder The girls needed his down the road ahead but he thought he could see a figure near the eht ca into view and the police car pulled in front of hiet out of the car for , officer, I assure you, I don’t take alcohol at all’

‘Just get out of the car, if you wouldn’t ot out

‘Thank you’

‘As I say, I haven’t had any alcohol, I don’t drink’

‘Can you tellthe road’

‘You weren’t driving in a nor this side … Another way of describing it is "kerb-crawling"’

‘I was going to park over there as it happens By the empty shops’

‘Why would you want to do that, sir? Got so questioned I’ is an offence, sir Are you aware of that? Are you also aware that young women work as prostitutes in this area?’

‘I know that’

‘Oh, you know?’

‘I know because I co them a hot drink and soirls are on the streets night after night, in the cold, in the dark, on their own, and that nobody gives a da to eat If you would like to open the bag on the back seat of the car you’ll find it’

Now the other one was out and walking slowly round Leslie’s car, exa the wheels, the doors, the bumpers

‘Go on, please … open the back door and look in the carrier bag and if any of the girls are about, they know me, they’ll vouch for me’

But the road was deserted

The PC took out the carrier bag and opened it, nodded to the other

‘Right, sir, well, I’ve only your word for it that you were taking this to give to the girls or anyone else, but if that is the case, I’d advise you against doing so’

‘What on earth for? What harh of it I look out for them, which is more than the police do, if I may say so Look …’

A car had co the police car, the driver barely stopped to let the girl out onto the path and ay, tyres screale" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>