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“Keep your money. I wasn’t even going to say anything to anyone about the Daltons, anyway.”

Irritation flickered over the older woman’s face. She fixed her cold eyes on Alice, staring at her like a puzzle she couldn’t solve. Alice glared back defiantly until Truscote exhaled the breath she’d apparently been holding.

“Look, Alice, you’ve been wronged quite badly. I probably shouldn’t say this, but if you had the motivation, you could take this further and probably get more. You’d ruin T&D’s reputation and put us out of business, no doubt.”

“Yeah, but I?—”

Truscote held up a hand. “I know you don’t want to do that, and I’m grateful. But I want you to take the money. It’ll give me peace of mind, and compensate you for the inconvenience of… well, everything. It can’t have been easy for you.”

Alice sat back. The money would be breathing space. She could pay off her credit card, sort out a new car — new to her at least — pay Maggie back in full, at last, and still have some left over to save. Maybe a little to spend, too. But she really should run it by Maggie first to make sure she wasn’t doing anything stupid.

“Can I take this away and think about it?”

Truscote nodded. “Yes, of course. I expected you to do that.”

“And you said that the er, terms… are negotiable?”

Truscote narrowed her eyes.

“I don’t mean the money. I just wondered whether there were a couple of other things we could agree on.”

“Like what?”

“Well, firstly there are the office plants. If no one is going to take care of them, then I’d like to give them a good home.”

“Yes, you can have the plants, Alice.” Truscote’s lips lost their battle to hold back a grin.

“And I have this friend. He’s in hospital at the moment, awaiting a psych assessment before they’ll even consider discharging him. There’s a waiting list, so they’ve no idea when it’ll be. Poor guy, he’s just lost his brother. I know you have a lot on, but would you be willing to take the case pro bono, as soon as you’re available?”

Truscote nodded slowly as she drew in a breath. “My caseload is pretty heavy at the moment, but I’ll see what I can do.”

Alice nodded and looked down at the file she was now clutching in her lap. “For what it’s worth, I think you still have a hold on her. Even after all this time, she still?—”

“Don’t.” Truscote pursed her lips. “Please.”

Alice shrugged and got to her feet. “Okay, then. I’ll be in touch.”

* * *

“Whoa,Alice. Slow down. Breathe, will you?”

“Sorry, it’s just… you’re not going to believe this. Are you free? I’ll come over. It’ll be easier if I show you,” Alice panted as she powered along the street, as fast as she could, whilst hoisting a large yucca plant under her good arm. Thankfully, she hadn’t bumped into Jeremy. She couldn’t stomach even the thought of facing him right now.

“I’m just finishing up at work. Markus is in town though, shall I ask him to swing by yours and give you a lift? Assuming your car is still knackered.”

“That’s a very fair assumption, Mags.”Bloody Markus though.She’d rather fork out for a taxi than share an uncomfortable car-ride with the prick, but she shouldn’t spend money she didn’t have… yet. “A lift would be great, thanks.”

“I’ll text him to pick you up from yours. I’ll be home by the time you arrive.”

* * *

Alice reachedthe top of the stairs and frowned at the large bouquet propped against her front door. Her mind flickered to Ash as she placed the yucca on the top step and picked up the decadent arrangement of roses and orchids.But why would Ash leave flowers?

Alice’s heart plummeted as she pulled the card from the cellophane and read the message written in Fran’s familiar looping handwriting.

‘I’ll be at The Dog & Duck

tomorrow, 12pm x’