‘Since when did you own a car?’ Ruby said, looking pointedly at the keys her daughter had placed on the glossy kitchen counter. Ruby pulled down two mugs from the overhead cupboard as she made the first cuppa of the morning.

‘Frances bought it for me. I think she’s worried that it’ll take me too long to get to Chigwell by public transport and I might not come back.’

‘Bribery’s one way around it I suppose,’ Ruby said, regretting the words as soon as they had left her lips.

Cathy looked pointedly around the luxury Dalston flat. ‘I guess none of us are shy when it comes to accepting gifts from the Crosbys.’

Ruby took a breath and prepared to start again. The last thing she wanted was their first weekend together getting off on a bad foot. Not that she would be there very much, given her team’s caseload. She’d barely had time for breakfast before going to work. ‘Coffee?’ Ruby said, taking the milk from the fridge.

‘I’d much prefer tea,’ Cathy replied. ‘Strong, three sugars… what are you grinning at?’

‘Nothing,’ Ruby replied, biting back her smile. ‘It’s just… that’s how I like it too.’

‘Good,’ Cathy said. ‘It means you won’t be lecturing me about my sugar intake like Nana.’

‘Nana?’ Ruby laughed. ‘How do you get away with calling her that?’ Frances may have been Cathy’s grandmother but she would hardly appreciate the reference.

‘I only use it when she’s getting on my nerves. She hates being reminded of her age. It’s one way of getting her off my back.’

Walking into the living room, Ruby rested their tea on the coffee table. ‘It’s really nice to have you here,’ she said. ‘I’m looking forward to getting to know you better.’

‘I’d like that, too,’ Cathy said, kicking off her boots before curling up on the sofa. ‘And I’m not going to sponge off the family for ever. I’m going to get a good job, start paying my way.’

Ruby smiled gently, taking a seat next to her. ‘Hun, I think you’re entitled to some payback, given all the years you were away. I know it wasn’t easy for you and I’m sorry. I wish things had turned out differently.’

‘You want to know about the scars, don’t you?’ Cathy said, staring into her cup. ‘I’ve caught you looking at them enough times.’

‘Only when you’re good and ready,’ Ruby said, steeling herself for her daughter’s reply.

‘I’ve spent half my life thinking like a victim,’ Cathy said. ‘It’s time to move on. I don’t blame you for giving me up. I probably would have done the same thing at that age.’

Ruby stared, speechless, at her change of heart. ‘When did you come to this decision?’

‘Dad talked me through the whole thing. It’s OK. I get it. I’d like to begin again.’

‘And your past?’ Ruby asked. ‘Would you like to talk to someone about it? If not me, then maybe we could arrange for—’

‘Counselling?’ Cathy said, pre-empting her words. ‘No thanks. I’m putting a lid on it. My scars are part of me now. They’ve made me strong. I’m going to get a tattoo, incorporate them in. It’ll be tastefully done. Nobody will know they’re there, except for me.’

‘And your boyfriend?’ Ruby paused to sip her tea, swallowing back her regret. She had believed in the system when she gave her daughter up, and it had let them both down.

‘You know, I think he’s more in love with you than me.’ Cathy grinned, her eyes twinkling at the mention of his name. ‘Look, Mum… can I call you Mum?’

‘I’d love you to,’ Ruby said, feeling warmth spread like a fire inside her.

‘I’ll tell you what happened but I need you to let it lie. Don’t go poking your nose in. Do you promise?’

Ruby nodded silently by means of reply. A flicker of fear rose up inside her as she braced herself for what was to come. Was she ready to hear this?

Cathy cleared her throat. ‘I was in and out of foster homes until the Connor family took me in at the age of ten. Peter, the head of the household, was big into corporal punishment and took his belt to me more than once. I took punishments for the other foster kids because I couldn’t bear to see them suffer too. He said nobody would believe us if we told the truth. So when I was thirteen, I fought back.’

‘No,’ Ruby said, her hand slowly cupping her mouth.

Cathy shifted in her seat as she prepared to relay the rest of the story. ‘One day Peter made me kneel in the corner of the garage. I stayed silent as he beat me across the back with his belt. Then he said he was going to administer a special punishment. I saw how he’d been looking at me, and something told me there was something far worse coming my way. I acted all meek, but he underestimated me. When he turned to lock the garage door, I picked up a shovel and whacked him over the head.’ She grinned at the memory but Ruby did not share in her glee. Her eyes wet with tears, she placed her cup on the table before taking her daughter’s hand.

‘That’s horrific,’ she said, ‘I’m so sorry—’

‘It’s not your fault,’ Cathy interrupted, briefly squeezing her hand.

‘What happened? Did you get help?’ Ruby’s stomach churned as she contemplated the pain her daughter had been through.

‘I told the police it was self-defence. They couldn’t argue with the scars on my back, all courtesy of his thick leather trouser belt, buckle side up.’ She sighed as she recalled the memory, the smile stiff on her face. ‘We got help, the other kids found new homes. But I didn’t get on anywhere after that. When I was old enough I got a flat. But I wasn’t what you’d call responsible. I didn’t cope very well on my own.’

‘I knew things were tough when you found us,’ Ruby said quietly.

Cathy did not disagree. ‘I fell in with a bad crowd, got into drugs. Slept with people I shouldn’t have. I’m one of the lucky ones: I got out in time. Others – they weren’t so fortunate. I dread to think how some of them ended up. Dead, probably.’

‘You’re so strong. Coming out the other side.’

‘Dad said I get that from you. From what I’ve seen, you’re both pretty ballsy. But I don’t want to think about the past anymore. It’s time to move on.’

‘You know I’ll support you in whatever you want to do.’

Cathy’s expression lightened as they moved on to a brighter subject. ‘Good, because I’ve been studying law.’

‘Really?’ Ruby said. ‘Joining the dark side?’

‘No, I’m joining the police.’

Ruby stared, wordless and expressionless, as she absorbed her daughter’s words.

‘Well? Say something,’ Cathy said.

‘When you said law, I presumed you were talking about becoming a criminal defence lawyer,’ Ruby replied. ‘Isn’t that what your dad thinks you’re going to do?’

‘Yeah,’ Cathy smirked. ‘He thinks I’m going to get some of his old cronies off when I’m qualified. I was hardly gonna tell him the truth, was I? Not while I’m living with Frances. You know how much she hates the old bill; she’d do her nut.’

‘She will.’ Ruby grimaced at the thought. ‘And you know who she’ll blame? Me.’

‘Since when have you been afraid of Frances Crosby?’ Cathy said.

Ruby smiled. Her daughter had gotten to know her well.

Swigging back the dregs of her tea, Cathy lay her cup on her lap, placed her feet on the coffee table and turned to face her mum. ‘I thought you’d be pleased.’

Ruby exhaled a deep sigh. ‘After all you’ve been through… I just wanted you to have an easier life. What’s made you want to join the job? I always thought you disapproved?’

‘I only said that stuff to get back at you,’ Cathy said. ‘I didn’t mean a word. If anything, I admire what you do.’

‘And what about your dad?’ Ruby said earnestly. ‘Do you admire that side of the business?’

‘He’s trying to clean up his act. Seriously, you want to hear the rows Lenny has with him over the phone. He’s sold off half the businesses, and after those prostitutes got killed, he’s closed down the escort site too.’

Ruby tried not to act surprised. She knew Nathan had been affected by the murders of the girls who had once worked on his patch, but she was not made aware of this most recent development in things. Was Nathan Crosby finally going straight? He had always managed to evade being charged for his crimes. There was still time for him to turn things around. ‘That’s good to hear,’ she said. ‘I’ll support you, if you can give me a good enough reason as to why you want to join the police.’

Cathy’s focus turned inwards as she retrieved long-buried memories. ‘When I turned the tables on my foster father and gave him a taste of his own medicine… it made me feel like I was worthwhile. One of the other foster kids was called Fiona. She was Down’s syndrome. She couldn’t fight back. I had to make it so he could never hurt anyone again.’

‘How did you do that?’ Ruby said.

‘Peter came to punish Fiona that day, not me. I wouldn’t let him take her away. So I wound him up, really bad. He forgot all about her and chose to teach me a lesson instead.’

‘That’s awful,’ Ruby said.

‘No, it was good, because this time I had scars. I’d already planned my escape. Without a proper beating, it would have been my word against his. Social care knew I couldn’t have whipped my own back. They found the belt in the garage; it still had traces of my blood on it. It was thanks to the police and my testimony that he was locked away for what he did.’

‘And Fiona?’

‘She was adopted. A sweet kid. I often think about her now.’

A sudden thought shot across Ruby’s consciousness. ‘Does your dad know about this?’

‘No,’ Cathy said, shaking her head. ‘And you can’t let him know. He’d find him and string him up by the balls.’

‘I thought you’d welcome it,’ Ruby said, prising more information from her.

‘Once, I would have. But not anymore. Seeing Lenny in action is enough to put me off.’

Ruby frowned. ‘What have you seen?’

Cathy tapped her finger to the side of her nose. ‘Nothing for you to worry about.’

‘God, you remind me of your father,’ Ruby said, making a mental note to find out later.

‘I’ll take that as a compliment,’ Cathy replied. ‘Don’t worry, it works both ways. I don’t report anything I hear from you either.’

‘What have you heard?’ Ruby said, wishing she could stay and chat a little longer.

‘Oh, just that Dad’s arranged for you to speak to Mason Gatley. Or rather Lenny has. Made up, he was. But I think you need to be careful there. I know he’s my uncle but I don’t trust him an inch.’

‘I’m glad you have the measure of him,’ Ruby said. ‘Because he knew exactly who you were when he took you on in the club… long before he told your father.’

‘I know, and I’ve spoken to him about it. He said it wasn’t his place to say.’

Ruby frowned, reminding herself to keep things light. ‘Well you don’t need to be getting involved in police business. Leave that to me.’

Cathy cocked her head to one side. ‘I know who this Mason Gatley is. The Lonely Hearts Killer, right? If you need any help finding his copycat then I’m happy to get stuck in.’

Ruby paled at the thought. ‘You’re joking me, right?’

‘It was just an offer,’ Cathy said, picking up the cups to bring them to the sink. ‘Word has it that he’s been hitting the clubs.’

The thought of her daughter getting involved in her case sent a cold shiver down her spine. She checked her watch, preparing to put this conversation to the back of her mind. Now was time to focus on leading her team. But not before she issued a warning to her daughter. ‘No involvement. Nothing. Do you hear me?’ she said, in a stern voice.

‘Your face!’ Cathy laughed, flicking her head back as her dark hair tumbled into her face. ‘Chill your beans. I was joking. Besides, he only goes for married chicks.’

Ruby pulled on her blazer, frustration spearing her words. ‘We’ll talk about this later. Promise me you won’t have anything to do with this case.’

‘Relax, all I’ve planned for tonight is a hot chocolate and a chick flick on the box.’

But Ruby was not convinced. The sooner she got this killer off the streets, the sooner they would all be safe.