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distressed.’
    ‘I thought her father was going to strike her when she came downstairs to ask for news,’ Constable Jacobs said quietly. ‘He’s a very disturbed man.’
    ‘He didn’t want her to talk to us, that’s for sure,’ Sergeant Gregory said grimly. ‘We shall need to interview her again without him there, possibly on her own, or with her mother. We need to speak to her friend for confirmation too. Constable Jacobs escorted her back to bed and she was able to have a short conversation with her in her bedroom.’ He looked at his colleague and gave a nod.
    ‘Fenella said her elder brother came into the café and snatched the car key from your son. He ran out to the car and jumped into the driver’s seat. Her own brother jumped into the passenger seat. She saidthey seemed to be arguing. She thought Liam was trying to persuade his brother to give back the car keys. Apparently your own son scrambled into the back as the car shot off down the High Street. She said the door swung open but he managed to grab it and slam it shut. She doesn’t know what happened after that but she is convinced her step-brother would have been driving the car at the time of the accident. Mr Lennox adamantly refuses to accept her version of what happened.’ Constable Jacobs said anxiously. ‘She was dreadfully upset.’
    ‘We need to get more statements, and hopefully some corroboration, but my guess is Mr Lennox is unwilling to accept any version except his own, even though he was not there,’ Sergeant Gregory said grimly.
    ‘All this may not be much comfort when your son is so badly injured,’ Constable Jacobs said gently, ‘but we’re going off duty now. We thought you should know we don’t think your son was driving at the time of the accident.’
    ‘Whatever happens to Billy, it is a great relief to hear that. He would never have forgiven himself if he was responsible for Liam’s death,’ Sam said.
    ‘Thank you both for taking time to come and tell us,’ Rosemary said gratefully. She looked up at Constable Jacobs. She turned her troubled blue eyes to Sergeant Gregory. ‘Would you…? Can I make you some breakfast, or a hot drink?’
    ‘No, thank you, Mrs Caraford, but it is a kind offer when you have so much on your mind,’ Sergeant Gregory said with a gentleness his colleagues would never have believed. ‘It has been a stressful night allround. We’re both ready to finish our shift and get home to bed.’

THREE
    Rosemary and Sam took turns at spending as much time at Billy’s bedside as the doctors would allow, with relief from Rena when she could get away from her own responsibilities, but it was several days before they were allowed to break the news of Liam’s death and even then Billy was still so groggy from his injuries and the heavy doses of medication they were unsure whether he understood. For the first time in Sam’s life the farm and the animals were a secondary consideration. The harvest had continued with the cooperation of the local contractor and his men. He and Rosemary had milked the cows each morning before going to the hospital.
    ‘Our own men are subdued too,’ he said as he and Rosemary sought comfort in each other’s arms a week later. ‘They’re wondering how Billy will accept the loss of his leg and the end of his dream to take over the farm. It’s a bitter blow to all of us but at least he is alive, thank God. The doctors seem fairly certain the blow to his head has not done permanent damage.’
    ‘We have a lot to be thankful for,’ Rosemary said,determined to look on the bright side, even though her heart ached for Billy and his youthful dreams, and for Jane Lennox, Liam’s mother. ‘Billy’s careers advisor telephoned from school to enquire after him. He says Billy will be able to resume his education at university next year and he will do everything he can to help him choose an alternative career. He has offered to visit him in hospital when Billy feels up to it. In