Day 4

“That’ll be Julie. Bet she’s bringing more cakes over”

She opened the door but it wasn’t Julie.

Two people looked her up and down. They thrust ID into her face. She caught ‘sergeant’ and maybe 'Brooks’ and ‘officer Jane somebody’ and ‘Met’. She was suddenly very aware that she was still in her very fetching fleecy pyjamas, with mismatched buttons and festive penguins on them – and it was way past lunch time.

“Are you Dr Patricia Jones?” She nodded.

“Well, can we come in?” he said. He frowned and looked at the young police woman standing next to him.

She nodded obediently and then sort of put her head slightly on a side, “It might be better if we come in. We have news and you may need to sit down.” Jane somebody empathetically nodded towards her and smiled.

Pat’s mind was racing. She hadn’t really caught the introductions and the Warrant Cards had flashed by. She hadn’t been concentrating – more worried about her appearance and the dancing penguin jim-jams.

She could see they were looking at her like she was some kind of mad person, so hoping upon hope that they were not a pair of con artists, she ushered them in.

She could see their eyes dart round the room. Her glance followed theirs. Chocolates half eaten, champagne glasses (two – aha!) and empty bottle of Bolly. Festive penguins hanging from a rather bare artificial pine. For some reason she suddenly felt guilty.

“Please sit.”

Too late – he was already making himself comfy on the sofa. The young woman shook her head in a kindly refusal and said, “Shall I make us some tea?” and flipped on the kettle without waiting for permission.

“I’m sorry to tell you this but we’ve been asked to call round. I’m afraid we have some rather bad news for you. I’m afraid your husband didn’t make it. He died this morning.”

Pat stared at the man and then at the young girl, who was still nodding like one of those dogs that inhabit the parcel shelf at the back of an old Cortina. The silence hung in deep reverence.

“But I’m not married.”