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though she must only be seventy-odd now – always had a sweetie for you. She sometimes took us into t’ woods an’ all, in that patterned headscarf of hers, to look for mushrooms – she knew what were fit to eat an’ what-ave-you, learned it in t’ old country, she’d say, though if we brought owt back me Mum’d always chuck it in t’ bin saying you couldn’t be sure, wharever t’ old country had to say. Though I s’pose you know all that yourself.’
    â€˜No, I don’t,’ he said. ‘I visit the first time today.’
    â€˜You’ll like ’em,’ she said decisively. ‘They’ll make you welcome. Think she missed havin’ family around, old Anja. Daughter ’ud visit but she were a bit of a sourfaced… Sorry, no offence like, but any road, her kids ’ud never come out an’ play wi’ us when she were there. Think there were a son, too, but summat happened when he were younger, before my time, like. He—’
    â€˜Who’s that yer got down there, Nicky?’ An irritable male voice drifted down the stairs.
    â€˜Lad come askin’ after t’ Pranjicks. What d’you say your name wa’, love?’
    â€˜Vinko,’ he said and regretted it.
    â€˜Vinko here’s a friend o’t family and—’
    â€˜Didn’t you tell him they’re not here no more?’
    He heard heavy footsteps on the stairs.
    â€˜I’m just getting him t’ address now.’ She went over to a sideboard and rummaged in a drawer.
    â€˜Aye well, gerrit quick an’ mek me some brekky. Got a mouth like t’ bottom of a budgie’s cage an’ me belly thinks me throat’s been cut.’
    A man dressed in boxers and a grubby T-shirt walked into the room. Vinko tensed. ‘Sort o’ time d’you call this? Bit early i’nt it? Respectable folks should be sleepin’ it off.’ He coughed harshly. ‘Like I were tryin’ to do. Got a fag, Nicks?’
    She threw him a packet, turned back to her scribbling. ‘Offer one to our guest, then.’
    Vinko shook his head. He was ready for one, but didn’t want to stay the length of time it would take to smoke it. He put his mug, barely touched, back down on the table and stood, looking over to where the young woman was folding a piece of paper.
    â€˜You excuse,’ he said to the man. ‘I don’t make no trouble. I’ll go now.’
    â€˜Wait on, love, you sure you don’t want some bacon an’ eggs? I’m just doin’ ’im some anyroad.’
    â€˜No,’ he said quickly. ‘Thank you,’ he added.
    â€˜Bet he’d rather have soddin garlic sausage or sour kraut or summat.’
    â€˜Gaz, honestly! Sorry ’bout that, love. Anyroad, here’s the address.’ She handed him the paper and showed him to the door. ‘I hope you find ’em, an’ when you do, remember me to ’em. Nicola Radcliffe, Ellie Radcliffe’s lass, Anja’ll know me.’
    â€˜I tell them. Thank you. Bye.’
    â€˜Good luck, love.’
    As she closed the door, he heard the man’s growl: ‘What the fuck d’you let him in here for? Best change t’ bloody locks now.’
    Vinko shoved his hands into his pockets and walked away.

Chapter 4
    â€˜Your carriage awaits, madam.’
    Jay doffed his hat theatrically and Marilyn felt slightly silly as she got into the jeep and turned the key, simply to feel the comfort of the engine running. The afternoon was already well-advanced; freeing the barn doors had only been a start. Before they could move the car or do anything more, they’d had to make the tree safe. She’d watched, heart in her mouth, as he cut through the branch from the top of a ladder and they lowered it slowly through the hole in the roof. He’d waved away her embarrassment that she hadn’t got round to learning how to use the