The Police Surgeon's Rescue. Abigail Gordon

looked better today. There was colour in her cheeks and her eyes were brighter, but who was to say that the practice Romeo wasn’t responsible for that?

      ‘I know you have lots to do, Blake,’ she was saying, ‘so I’ll be on my way. Will I see you again before the funeral?’

      She was praying he would say yes. The days stretched ahead in bleak emptiness. At the present time he was the only bright thing in her life.

      Helena wasn’t aware how beseeching she sounded and that he was as anxious for her company as she was for his, but he wasn’t going to tell her that. In the short time that he’d known her his role had been that of protector and that was how it had to stay.

      ‘Of course,’ he told her. ‘You can see me whenever you want. You know where I live and if I’m not at the house I’m here. I don’t get much further than that. And isn’t there something you’ve forgotten that we’re both involved in?’

      ‘What?’

      ‘You’re supposed to be moving into that house of mine today, aren’t you? If you can hang on until this evening, I’ll give you some assistance.’

      Helena smiled. She’d been hoping he would offer but had had no intention of asking.

      ‘It will be mostly clothes and toiletries that I’m taking…and Dad’s papers.’

      ‘Fine, then it won’t take us long,’ he said.

      * * *

      From the moment she stepped into the cottage Helena felt better. The safe house had possessed a glut of locks and alarms but it had been short on home comforts and in the cosy confines of her new home she was happy to put its utilitarian decor behind her.

      As she explored the rooms with a smile on her face Blake was watching her.

      ‘So will it do?’ he asked.

      ‘Yes.’ She beamed. ‘It’s heaven to get away from that place. I might have a housewarming. Would you come if I did? It would be just the two of us as I don’t know anyone else.’

      He was laughing.

      ‘Yes, of course I’ll come. But you do know some other people now that you’ve been introduced at the surgery. Darren and Maxine, for instance.’ She pulled a face. ‘And Jane and Beverley.’

      ‘I suppose so,’ she agreed, ‘but I don’t know them like I know you.’

      She watched his eyes darken and his mouth curve softly and wondered what construction he was putting on that comment, but he wasn’t to be drawn.

      ‘I’m afraid I have to go, Helena,’ he said. ‘I have an engagement. Maxine’s son is having a twenty-first party. She’s divorced and his father won’t be there, so I’ve been invited as a sort of stand-in.’

      ‘Oh! I’m sorry if I’ve delayed you,’ she said.

      ‘Don’t be. I’m in plenty of time. Sleep tight in your new home. I’ll see you soon.’ And off he went.

      When he’d gone she had a quick bite and then went to sit in the cottage’s small back garden. It was a warm evening and the sun was setting like a golden ball of fire on the horizon. What was Blake’s relationship with his strident partner? she wondered yet again. Maybe he saw qualities in her that were not visible to herself. She would have to look long and deep to find any likable traits in Maxine Fielding.

      When the sun had gone and dusk lay over the garden she got to her feet. If she was going to live here it was time she got to know the area, she decided. Locking the door securely behind her, she made her way to the Swan Hotel just down the road.

      The first person she saw in the bar was Darren Scott and she wished she’d stayed at home. He saw her and came across. She dredged up a smile.