Page 131 of Secret Paths

“Excellent hearing,” I say.

Mandy smiles properly this time.

It is small.

It still hits me in the chest.

“No apple,” she says. “Not yet.”

“All right.”

There is a pause.

It is not awkward exactly. It is careful. That is worse. I have touched every inch of this woman and somehow, we are standing two feet apart pretending baked apples require formal diplomacy.

Before either of us can say anything else, Lexi appears at Mandy’s shoulder with a raffle tin tucked under one arm.

“Hello you two,” she says to Mandy. “I need change for the raffle float, and Hunter said Peter and Ed might have some.”

Ed reaches for the cash box. “How much?”

“Twenty in coins if you can spare it.” Alexandra looks at me. “And you. I have not forgotten Sainsbury’s.”

My hand tightens on the ladle.

Mandy’s face changes by half an inch.

Alexandra points at me. “Do not look innocent. It does not suit you.”

“I was not aware we were discussing this in public.”

“Well, shouldn’t have avoided me then.”

Mandy looks at me.

I look at Mandy.

This is bad.

Possibly fatal.

Alexandra turns to Mandy, clearly delighted to have an audience. “I found him in Sainsbury’s last week with sanitary towels, ibuprofen, sweets and a packet of women’s knickers.”

Mandy inhales.

I consider climbing into the apple crate.

Ed goes very still beside me.

“Lexi,” I say.

“No, because this is important. He tried to tell me they were for a Morton Hall guest.”

Mandy presses her lips together.

I cannot tell if she is horrified or trying not to laugh.

Both, possibly.