When Holly arrived home, Cora was upstairs. She stood outside the older woman’s bedroom door and listened to the thump and slide of moving furniture, the laboured breathing.

Who’d have thought an ordinary mature lady like Cora would be keeping such an enormous secret to herself? One thing Holly had learned over the years was that people never failed to surprise you. And not always in a good way.

It would be nice if Cora voluntarily confided in her soon, but Holly didn’t think that would happen. No. She’d be more likely to ask David or his mum, Pat, for advice… or perhaps even her gardener, Nick Brown.

She didn’t think Cora would want that unpleasant man Brian to know. There was something about him Holly mistrusted.

She’d seen Brian smoking at all hours down at the bottom of their garden. Although he’d been over the other side of the fence at the time, his eyes had always seemed to be trained up at her window.

Some people would no doubt say she suffered from an overactive imagination, but Holly had previous experience when it came to this sort of thing. She knew how ordinary and innocuous a pervert could look, thanks to living with Uncle Keith.

She didn’t disturb Cora. Instead she went into her own bedroom and lay on the bed to come down a bit from the excitement of the day.

She’d have to just put up and shut up for a bit longer in the interests of the idea that was forming slowly in her mind. Some things couldn’t be rushed.

Sometimes it felt like her whole life had involved covering up the truth, staying quiet when she really wanted to speak out, or painting a picture of herself that didn’t reflect the reality of who she actually was.

---

When Brendan had put her through her paces in a mini interview of sorts in his Manchester office, Holly had been forced to tell him what she thought he wanted to hear, rather than the unpalatable truth.

‘Markus tells me you were traumatised by that hellhole you were staying in last night,’ Brendan had said, surprising her with his bluntness.

‘Well, it… it wasn’t the best place,’ she’d replied, glaring at Markus and wondering if Brendan had been the one who’d arranged for them to stay there and was offended in some way.

‘I apologise,’ he’d said, flashing her that irresistible grin again. ‘I confess it’s a little test I like to give any prospective employees of mine.’

‘Test?’

She’d looked at Markus and he had shrugged apologetically.

‘It tests mettle, you see,’ Brendan had explained cheerfully. ‘Anyone who can get through a whole evening in a place like that is the sort of person I can work with. Beats a load of pointless interview questions every time.’

For a moment Holly was speechless.

Markus coughed.

‘It was an awful place,’ she whispered. ‘Those people…’

‘They won’t be helped, unfortunately,’ Brendan said without emotion. ‘It’s a lifestyle choice that soon proves very difficult to escape from, once you’ve made the fateful decision to turn to drugs.’

‘It’s very sad nonetheless,’ she said quietly.

Brendan had seemed so reasonable and nice, but given this new, cold attitude, she wasn’t sure what to think.

She’d glanced at Markus, suddenly unsure of him too.

‘I take it you knew that last night was a test?’ She’d struggled to keep her voice level.

‘I… I kept telling you things would turn out fine,’ he’d said.

Holly had felt like punching him. During the coach journey from Nottingham, she had repeatedly asked him what the arrangements would be once they arrived, but he’d played dumb. Now it was evident he’d been fully aware how terrified she was last night and had still chosen to say nothing.

Brendan had clapped his hands and smiled.

‘Forget about it. You’ll be relieved to hear I’ve got a decent place for you both to stay, so I’ll take you there later. If things work out, could you start work tomorrow, Holly? Does that suit?’

‘Oh! Absolutely,’ she’d beamed, pushing the previous night’s ordeal to the back of her mind. It sounded a bit of a strange job that he’d outlined, but who cared? ‘I can’t wait. Thanks so much, Brendan.’

‘No. Thank you,’ he’d said, and reached over to pat her knee before turning to Markus again. ‘Just a thought, mate, can you pop out to Myra and get Holly an application form? Ask her if there’s anything else she needs.’

‘Sure.’ Markus had stood up right away, seemingly pleased to avoid Holly’s dagger-like stare. ‘I can do that now.’

Holly had felt a stab of self-consciousness, wondering how long Markus would be gone and what she’d talk to Brendan about in the meantime, but she needn’t have worried.

‘So.’ He’d turned to look at her again. ‘While we have a spare five minutes, why don’t you tell me a little bit about yourself?’