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her relationship with her brother. I felt a moment’s guilt. Ashley was a sweet, straightforward girl. She didn’t need some weirdo and his sister in her life.
    ‘So, he wants a date?’ Ashley prompted, finally handing back the phone. ‘With me?’
    ‘He wants a date with a beautiful, bright girl with the body of a supermodel,’ I told her. ‘Which would be you, Ashley, yes.’
    ‘He’s way out of my league,’ she said, holding out her hand. ‘I need another look.’
    Grinning, I gave her back my phone, and watched as the twins dissolved into quiet shrieks over Ade’s picture. I hadn’t quite thought through the reality of the situation, which could well be that Ade would eat someone like Ashley for breakfast. I didn’t believe Polly’s story for a minute. Any relation of hers had to have the arrogant gene. And there was no denying he was hot. But for now I was enjoying thinking about someone else’s romantic future for a change.
    ‘So,’ I said, once the giggling had died down, ‘I can tell Polly you’re up for a date?’
    ‘Only if Emma can come too,’ said Ashley seriously. ‘We go everywhere together.’
    ‘But this is a date, Ash.’ I smiled in a compensatory way at Emma. ‘I don’t think that would be his idea of a double date. I don’t think it’s anybody’s idea of a double date.’
    ‘She’s right, Ash.’ Emma nudged her sister. ‘You should go alone.’
    Ashley looked stricken and, underneath the make-up, she looked very young all of a sudden.
    I sighed, knowing what was coming. Might as well pre-empt the inevitable.
    ‘You want Luca and me to come with?’ I suggested reluctantly. ‘Like a proper double date?’
    ‘Would you?’ She reached her hand over the table. ‘It’s just, he’s a stranger and …’
    ‘Of course,’ I said firmly. It was a good idea. I didn’t trust Polly, why would I trust her brother?
    ‘Brilliant.’ Ashley slid the phone over to me and grabbed hold of Emma’s arm. ‘I’ve got a date, Em!’ she squealed. ‘A proper date!’
    My heart was already sinking. Now I had to break the news to Luca. I just had to hope that Ade was normal. Because if he had even the faintest whiff of bad-ass about him, then Luca would sniff it out in a heartbeat.
    Sometimes heightened sensory perception wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.

CHAPTER EIGHT
     
    P ete’s tea took some getting used to. Luca blew on it, wrinkling his nose at the murky grey colour of the liquid inside the mug. He missed his mother’s tea. He’d never tell Jane that, and truly it wasn’t much of a sacrifice, but this synthetic perfumed concoction was not what he would define as a cup of tea.
    He put the mug down and felt in his jacket pocket, drawing out the small plastic bag he had been hiding in there since the day before.
    Pete was on his way to a supplier’s and the place was empty. Much as he liked the old man, Luca enjoyed being alone at the yard. It was peaceful. Being surrounded by equipment, tools – practical stuff – calmed him. Aside from being with Jane, just sitting with the sound of Pete’s ancient old clock for company was something Luca found he looked forward to these days.
    Still holding the plastic bag in his hand, he took a breath, then carefully and efficiently opened it.
    The blood had dried brown, no longer adhesive. As he touched the chain it crumbled off, speckling his leg with tiny flakes. He winced, a bad taste in his mouth again. The chain was delicate and so tainted by this dried blood. He stared at it, trying to form a picture in his head of the owner. It had to be a woman, or a girl. It looked like a celebration present, like the bracelet Ulfred and Henora had given Dalya when she’d reached her tenth year.
    At the thought of his little sister Luca felt a wave of protectiveness. He closed his eyes for a second, determined not to become sentimental.
    How had the necklace come to be in that stinking place?
    Pete’s cat, a stringy tabby, appeared,