‘The Cuthbert didn’t tell you, huh?’

Sadie stood up and smiled. ‘No, she didn’t mention it.’

‘Must have slipped her mind. She gets mighty forgetful when it suits her. You don’t get nothin’ for nothin’ in this place.’ The woman gave a snort. ‘I’m Velma, by the way. The room across the hall.’

‘Hi, I’m Sadie.’

‘Nice to meet you, Sadie. So what brings you to Oaklands?’

Sadie got her purse out of her bag and began to search for the money. ‘It’s a long story, but I’m only going to be around for a week or so.’

‘That’s what I said, hon. And twelve years later I’m still here.’

‘Twelve years?’

Velma gave a rueful smile. ‘Well, it might not be cheerful but at least it’s cheap. You need a 50p, babe? I’ve probably got one.’

‘No, it’s okay.’ Sadie finally found a couple of coins and bent down again to slip them into the meter. This time when she turned the switch the fire gave a pop and roared into life. ‘That’s better,’ she said, rubbing her hands in front of the flames.

‘You look frozen. Fancy a cuppa? I’ve just brewed up.’

‘God, I’d love one. It was icy on that train.’ Sadie followed her neighbour across the landing. This room was much bigger with pale blue walls and a pair of heavy, dark blue velvet drapes drawn across the window. It was warmer too with the fire on full blaze. There was a sink, a double bed, a table, an armchair, a portable TV and even a few plants.

Velma turned the radio down and busied herself with the teapot. ‘Where are you from then?’

‘Haverlea. It’s a small town up north, near Liverpool.’ Saying it reminded Sadie of Joel and she made a mental note to give him a call from one of the phone boxes outside the station. Already she was missing him and counting down the days until she could go home.

‘This your first time in London?’

‘No, I’ve been here before. I lived in Tufnell Park for a few years.’

‘Milk and sugar?’

‘Just milk, thanks.’

‘You take the chair,’ Velma said, passing her a mug. ‘I can sit on the bed.’

Sadie sat down and took a welcome sip of tea. ‘Lord, I needed that. Thanks very much.’

‘That’s okay, hon. Anything you need, you only have to ask.’

Sadie hesitated. ‘Well…’

‘Go on. What is it?’

‘Well, the reason I’m here is that I want to find my husband and get him to sign the divorce papers. I don’t suppose you’ve got any brilliant ideas on that, have you? He’s avoiding me. In fact, the bugger’s been avoiding me for years.’

‘What’s his name, love?’

‘Eddie, Eddie Wise.’

Velma gave a shake of her head. ‘Can’t say I’ve heard of him. You could try the Fox across the road. The landlord, Tommy Quinn, knows most people round here, all the regulars anyway. Or you could ask his missus, Moira. What makes you think he’s in Kellston?’

Sadie told her story as she drank the tea. Up close, she realised that Velma was probably in her fifties rather than her forties. The woman was wearing a lot of make-up, a thick layer of foundation and heavy eyeliner. Her hair, long and wavy, was a solid, unnatural-looking black. She had a kind face, however, the sort that invited confidences.

‘You got a picture of this Eddie?’ Velma asked.

‘Hang on a sec.’ Sadie stood up, went to her room and retrieved the photo from her holdall. She came back and passed it over. ‘This was taken almost five years ago but I don’t imagine he’s changed that much.’

‘Good-looking guy,’ Velma said, holding the picture at arm’s length.

‘And doesn’t he know it.’

Velma smiled. ‘Yeah, they’re the worst. Bit of a ladies’ man, huh?’

‘You could say that.’

‘They’re not worth the trouble, babe. You’re better off without him. What does he do in the work line?’

‘Good question,’ Sadie said. ‘About as little as he can get away with, usually. He doesn’t do nine to five, and whatever it is, it’ll probably be dodgy.’

Velma gave her back the photo. ‘Ah, right, then you might want a word with Nathan Stone. He knows all the faces round here.’

‘Nathan Stone?’

‘Terry Street’s right-hand man.’ Then seeing Sadie’s blank expression, she added, ‘Terry runs this manor. There’s not a villain farts round here without him knowing about it. If Eddie’s working for someone, Nathan will be able to tell you who. He’s usually in Ramones between six and eight. It’s a bar round the corner. Turn right out of the house and then left at the lights. You can’t miss it. He’ll be sitting at the back.’

Sadie pulled a face, not exactly relishing the prospect of approaching a local gangster. She’d met a few iffy characters in her time with Eddie, but no one in this kind of league. ‘Why should he tell me, though? Blokes tend to stick together and he doesn’t know me from Adam.’

‘Yeah, he’s a bloke, hon, so use your charms. It’s not as though you’re the law or anything. All you want is to get a few papers signed. Be persuasive and I’m sure he’ll see it from your point of view.’

‘Persuasive?’ Sadie echoed, raising her eyebrows.

‘You know what I mean. Just be nice, flutter your eyelashes and play the little girl lost. You’ll be fine. Nathan’s got a weakness for blondes so it shouldn’t be too hard.’

‘You think?’ Sadie didn’t feel entirely comfortable with the idea. ‘And what if he tells me that he doesn’t know where Eddie is and then tips him the wink as soon as I’m out of sight? The weasel’s going to be gone from Kellston in five minutes flat.’

Velma gave a shrug. ‘So what’s the alternative? You could visit every pub and club in the district and still not find him. At least this way you’ve got a chance, and you could save yourself a lot of legwork too.’

‘I suppose.’

Velma put down her mug and glanced at her watch. ‘I’d come with you only there’s somewhere I’ve got to be. Sorry.’

Sadie, taking the hint, quickly rose to her feet. ‘Oh, that’s okay. Thanks again for the tea – and the tip about Nathan.’

‘No worries. Good luck, then. Let me know how it goes.’

‘I will.’

Sadie went back to her room, closed the door and walked over to the window. It was ten to five and dark outside. She stood and watched the traffic, mulling over what Velma had told her. Should she go and see Nathan Stone? She found the idea daunting, but she wasn’t overjoyed at the thought of slogging round all the local pubs either. Perhaps, all things considered, it was the lesser of two evils.

She pulled the curtains across and began to unpack. It didn’t take her long. All she’d brought with her were some clothes and toiletries, the file on Eddie and a couple of books. As she shoved her things into a drawer, she hoped her stay would be a short one. The room was small and depressing and already the walls were closing in on her.

After a while, she heard Velma’s door click shut, followed by the sound of footsteps on the stairs. Sadie felt a pang of guilt that she’d spent ten minutes offloading all her own problems and not asked the woman anything about herself. It was hardly polite, was it? Well, she’d have to find a way to make it up to her, maybe take her for a drink at the Fox once this business with Eddie was sorted.

Sadie sighed into the silence of the room. She felt that peculiar loneliness that often comes from being in a large city, surrounded by millions of people but not really knowing anyone. Joel had offered to take a few days off work and come with her, but she’d passed on it. Even though Eddie didn’t have a faithful bone in his body, he’d still get the hump if she turned up with someone else. He was perverse like that. And anyway that hadn’t been the only reason she’d wanted to come alone. Eddie was the past and Joel was the future, two different parts of her life that she preferred to keep separate.

‘Time to move on,’ she murmured.

And there was only one way to do that. She rummaged in her bag, took out her make-up and prepared to meet Nathan Stone.