There was no answer at Ginnie Campbell's door. As they turned to walk back up the path, the door of the next terraced house opened and a neighbour stepped out in front of them.
'If you're looking for that Campbell woman, she's out.' Ginnie Campbell's neighbour was built on battle-tank lines and now she planted her solid, fluffy pink slippered feet more firmly on the shared path, blocking it as effectively as any armoured vehicle, and, managing to look marginally more threatening as she crossed meaty arms over her flowered pinny. Eyes as hard and dense as plum stones fixed avidly on them as she added, 'I can give her a message, if you like.'
'Thanks for the offer, but we'll come back.' Without success, Rafferty attempted to edge past her on the narrow path, but as she didn't give an inch
