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Nobody had killed anyone and nobody had got hurt. That was the important thing. But if some rich corporation or whatever lost a few pounds, well, that wasn’t so bad, was it? At least it wasn’t to her dad and Gio. Sophie herself stayed well out of it. Her books were clean. Which was probably why her dad had insisted on taking over this morning.

She sighed.

This wasn’t a deal breaker, she told herself. Her family might not have a fondness for the police, but they hadn’t been introuble for a long time. They were relatively clean now, and it wasn’t like she was inviting Tilly over for tea.

She went into the post office, posted her letters, then made her way out and over to the doctor’s surgery.

Not that she was inviting Tilly to anything, given that she couldn’t find the damn woman. She’d walked all the main streets in town and there was no sign of her. Sophie sighed as she walked up to the surgery. Maybe Tilly was at the station, which was one place she probably shouldn’t be seen going into.

“Morning,” said Cordelia, the surgery receptionist. “What can I do you for?”

“Just a repeat prescription for dad,” said Sophie.

Cordelia typed something into her computer. “Give it a minute. I’ve sent it through to Lydia. She’ll need to sign it. She’ll bring it out when she’s done. Everything alright with you?”

“Not bad,” Sophie said because she wasn’t about to admit to being half in love with someone she couldn’t find and had only met once for a couple of hours. And most of those hours had been spent singing and not even talking.

Was that it? Was she really half in love with Tilly?

Lust maybe, but love? Was that what those tingly feelings were?

“Can you fall in love at first sight?” she asked Cordelia.

“You’re asking the wrong person,” Cord said. “I hated Lyd at first sight though, if that’s any help?”

“Not really.”

“Thinking about falling in love, are you?”

Sophie blew out her cheeks. “Depends. Do I get patient-doctor confidentiality?”

“I’m only the receptionist. You’ll have to talk to Lyd for that.” Cordelia grinned. “Wouldn’t blame you if you are, though. I thought for ages that I was happy alone. Turned out that I waslonely and grumpy and rapidly turning into one of those strange old ladies that has too many cats.”

“I don’t have any cats,” Sophie pointed out.

“Wouldn’t do you any harm to get a love interest, though,” Cord said. “There’s a lot to be said for having someone to cook dinner for you every now and again.”

Jesus, she wasn’t going that far. She’d barely met the woman. But now that she thought about it, having dinner with Tilly wouldn’t be so bad.

“Here you are,” Lydia said, coming out of the consulting room. “Oh, it’s you Sophie. I thought it was your dad. He really should come and pick up his prescription himself, you know.”

“Yeah, you know what the chances are of that happening,” Sophie said, pulling a face. “He’s only got the thing in the first place because you came out to him when he collapsed.”

“How’s he doing?”

“Alright, I think,” Sophie said. “He’s not had any more attacks, and I keep his diet as healthy as I can. He won’t eat a salad, though. I end up having to hide vegetables under baked beans and hope he doesn’t notice.”

“Whatever works,” Lydia laughed.

Sophie took her shopping and the prescription and walked back toward the garage. Half way there on the opposite side of the street she passed the police station. She hesitated for a second, then continued on her way.

She liked Tilly. But it all had to be a secret. She wasn’t going to let her family ruin another possibility for her. And she could wait until Friday to see her again. She started whistling as she walked the rest of the way.

Chapter Eight

Tilly bent over and inspected the rear of the bike. “No,” she said, straightening up again. “No, I’m afraid you’ll have to get a red reflector. It is the law. Did you not do your bicycle proficiency test?”

The boy looked at her with wide eyes. At the beginning, he’d had an attitude. Well, most fourteen-year-olds had attitudes. Now he just looked scared.