‘When did she ring you?’
‘Friday night.’ Mrs Collins paused and clenched her work-thickened fingers together in her lap before adding, ‘You never know what trouble’s waiting for you, do you? Thank God my lads are no bother.’
‘Did she say what hospital her son was in?’
Mrs Collins shook her head. ‘She didn’t say a lot at all. She’s never been a chatty woman at the best of times and with getting such news it was hardly that, was it? And her on her own, too. I dare say the boy’s missed a firm hand.’
Rafferty nodded.
‘Anyway, as I said, she rang me and told me she didn’t expect to be in all this week, so I rang the boss, Mr Arnold, Ross Arnold – he owns Allways Cleaning Services – and he sent Mrs Chakraburty to cover. Only she’s not so good on her legs. She told me she had rickets when sh
