He said it wasn’t his sort of thing. Although I think he probably meant Barb wasn’t his sort of thing. She calmed down a bit when he told her his wife was moving in later.’

Belle wriggled closer to her gran. ‘I didn’t understand what people meant by man-eater until I met her.’

Sheila smiled. ‘You can’t blame her, really. Decent men are a bit thin on the ground and she’s been divorced for over twenty years. I think she’s hoping for a bit of fun. A bit of harmless fun can do anyone the world of good.’ Sheila looked pointedly at Rory. ‘He’s pretty good-looking, I suppose – the new resident – he looks a bit like Cary Grant. Only thinner. And with less hair. There was something a bit strange about him, though. Shifty eyes.’

Rory looked over the top of the pizza delivery menu. ‘Now who’s being choosy?’

‘No, I’m serious.’ Sheila turned back to Belle. ‘He came and went a few times, bringing boxes of belongings, and then disappeared into his flat. No one has seen his wife.’

Belle was leaning forward now. Listening to every word. Rory loved how close they were. When Belle was little, Sheila would collect her from school every day and they’d have a wonderful time. Sheila would let Belle play with her make-up, which drove Rory mad. She didn’t want Belle encouraged to do typically girly things. All Sheila would say at the time was, ‘I’m sure even Germaine Greer wears a bit of lippy now and again.’ Rory was biased, but she thought that Belle was beautiful just as she was. Although she was wearing more lipstick than usual today. And was that mascara on her lashes?

Rory was less interested in this new man and his invisible wife. ‘He probably made her up to get away from Barb.’

Sheila shook her head. ‘No. We saw him bring in armfuls of women’s clothes on hangers. There must be a wife.’

Belle had the wild imagination of the young. ‘That’s so suspicious, Gran. Do you think he’s keeping her prisoner? You should go and find out!’

‘Hang on. Hang on.’ Rory needed to put the brakes on these two.