With Boyd by her side, Lottie stood in the road, looking at the remains of her burned-out house. It was dark, and the heavens were in a tormented mood.

‘Why do the gods continue to conspire against me to take everything away?’

‘You have your family and you still have your job,’ Boyd said. ‘You’re lucky McMahon’s not pursuing your television debacle any further.’

‘It’s only so he can wallow in the success of closing the murder investigation so quickly. I wonder if Cynthia Rhodes is sticking around.’

‘I’m sure she will.’

‘Any word on Corrigan?’ Lottie said. ‘Never thought I’d say this, but I miss him.’

‘His surgery was a success, but I don’t know when he’ll be back, if ever.’

‘That means I’ll have to suffer McMahon!’

‘Or he’ll have to suffer you,’ Boyd laughed.

‘Boyd, I’ve no home. It’s been swallowed up in black smoke and flames. It’s all ashes.’

‘You have Katie’s money from Tom Rickard,’ he said with a laugh.

‘It’s not funny.’ She shoved her hands deeper into her mother’s wool coat.

‘I know, but sometimes you have to laugh or you might cry,’ he said.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket as rain began to come down in a diagonal line, cutting her face like shards of glass.

She answered the unknown number.

‘Am I speaking to Lottie Parker?’

‘Yes.’ She walked in small circles. ‘Who is this?’

‘Captain Leo Belfield. I’m with the NYPD. New York Police Department.’

Lottie dropped to her knees on the hard tarmac, rainwater flowing around her. She clenched the phone to her ear.

‘What’s happened? Oh God Almighty. Please tell me they’re all right?’ Boyd bent down and wrapped his arms about her. She shrugged him off.

‘Sorry, I don’t follow you,’ the caller said. ‘Slow down.’

‘My daughter and grandson are in New York,’ she sobbed, all control draining away. ‘Tell me nothing has happened to them. Dear God, Jesus …’

‘Eh, not that I’m aware of, ma’am.’

‘Oh.’ She slumped down on the kerb, oblivious to her saturated clothes. ‘Why are you calling me then?’

‘I found your number among my mother’s things.’

‘Your mother? What’s this about? You scared me half to death.’

‘My mother’s name is Alexis Belfield. She’s suffered a heart attack, though it’s nothing to worry about. The doctor says she’s going to be fine, with medication. I had to look through her papers and computer files to locate her medical insurance details. I sent you an email, but you didn’t reply. After some detective work, I found your number and decided to ring. I don’t think I was ever intended to see some of those files …’

‘Hey, slow down there. Did you say Alexis Belfield?’

‘One and the same. My Mom.’

‘Oh!’ Lottie stared up at Boyd, wide-eyed, her heart crashing against her chest.

‘So I just wanted to introduce myself and say hello. I believe we are related, if I can believe this stuff I’ve read here.’

‘What did you say your name was again?’

‘Leo Belfield. You know what, Lottie Parker, I believe I may be your half-brother.’

‘What?’ She almost dropped the phone.

‘Are you coming to the States any time soon? Or hey, I can come visit you. I’m sure Mom would love that.’

I’m sure she wouldn’t, Lottie thought.

‘Are you for real?’ she said.

He hesitated for the first time. ‘Sorry, have I upset you? I know a phone call isn’t the best way to do introductions, but I was excited and—’

‘I need to digest this.’ The words tumbled from her mouth. ‘You see, my house burned to the ground last night. I’m living with my two teenagers in my mother’s house and she isn’t the easiest person in the world to get along with, but that’s another story. My eldest is in New York with her son, my grandson, and that’s why you scared the shit out of me. I’ve just solved a major case and I’m sitting in the rain, on the side of the road, and I don’t know what the future holds for me. I need time to think. Please, Leo, don’t come here. Not just yet, anyway.’

She hung up and stared at Boyd.

‘I don’t believe it,’ she said.

‘Neither do I. What was that all about?’

Lottie looked up at the sky as the rain turned to sleet.

‘I thought … I thought something had happened to Katie and Louis …’

‘But they’re just fine.’

‘Yes. But he said … this Leo guy on the phone … he said he might be my half-brother. Jesus, Boyd. What am I going to do?’

‘You’re going to get up out of that puddle. Here, grab my hand. You need to go to your mother’s and hug your children. And you don’t have to meet this Leo if you don’t want to.’

‘This will finish Rose off.’ Lottie pulled away from him. ‘I’m not going to tell her. And you’re not to either.’

‘I won’t. But Lottie … you need to think seriously about the implications of that phone call.’

‘I will.’ She caught the look of hurt skimming across his eyes. ‘Just not tonight.’

She linked her arm through his and, leaning into his shoulder, walked away from what had once been her home.

And she truly had no idea where she was going.

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