Benny stopped eating mid-chew.
‘He was released today.’ She pointed at the ceiling. ‘He’s staying in room one.’
‘Does Nan and Granny know?’
Alice nodded. ‘Yeah. Your nan is still processing, but your granny seems okay.’
Benny glanced around the kitchen. ‘I wonder what Mabel would think.’
‘She would have put a roof over his head.’
‘How are you feeling?’
‘I’m all right. It was a bit of a shock at first, because I wasn’t expecting him till next year, but he’s here now, and he’s going to find work and settle down. Show everyone he’s changed.’ She glanced at the door as Jamie walked in, looking sheepish.
‘Sorry, I was outside and heard you talking about me, and I wasn’t sure whether to come in or not.’ Jamie smiled over at Benny. ‘You’ve grown. Do you remember me?’
Benny shrugged. ‘Not really.’
Alice manoeuvred Jamie to the table to sit, then set about bringing over their dinner. ‘Ah, you were just seven when Jamie last saw you.’
‘I wasn’t around much, though,’ said Jamie. ‘Flittered about back then.’
Benny went back to eating. ‘I’ve heard all about you.’
Jamie bobbed his head. ‘Well, whatever you’ve heard, it’s probably all true.’
‘But that’s in the past,’ said Alice. ‘This is Jamie’s fresh start.’
Benny raised his fork. ‘Hope life treats you better this time around, mate.’
Alice bit her lip, suppressing a grin.
‘Thanks,’ said Jamie, smiling. ‘I hope so too.’
‘So,’ said Benny, still munching away. ‘I see you put up the Crimbo bits. But why no lights outside?’
Alice was so glad of the subject change, but then frowned at the question. ‘There are fairy lights around the bushes. Jamie put them on earlier.’
Jamie nodded. ‘And I put some on that mini tree out there.’
Benny raised his eyebrows. ‘Well, they’re not there now.’
Alice jumped up. ‘Oh no, you’re kidding.’ She dashed outside to see for herself.
Jamie came up behind her. ‘Someone has had it on their toes with them.’
‘Check the security footage,’ said Benny, standing in the doorway.
Alice sprinted across the foyer. ‘Good idea.’ She fired up the laptop, then let Benny do the rest. He was much better at the technical stuff.
The time on the footage told them that the thief had untangled the lights about half an hour before Benny came home and had shoved them under a bush.
Jamie pointed at the screen. ‘Look, there’s someone.’
They all zoomed in to see the hooded, masked thug walking off.
‘Now why would someone do that?’ questioned Alice.
