Necessary as Blood

this? I don‘t believe it.‘ A desire to tell Ivan Talbot what she thought of him was making Gemma‘s head pound. ‘You are good at this job, and I don‘t want to lose you. I don‘t want the force to lose you. I am not going to accept your resignation. And you — you‘re going to be much more careful from now on. No more research at the paper. No hints to your father about any cases, no matter how innocently given. Is that settled?‘
    ‘But — but how can you possibly trust me, after this...‘
    ‘Because I know you.‘ And in spite of Melody‘s dissembling, Gemma felt sure that she did. ‘What your father does is really no one else‘s business. And there is nothing that links you to this story‘ — Gemma tapped the paper — ‘other than your word, and mine. And we‘re not going to discuss it again. With anyone.‘
    There was a long moment in which Gemma and Melody looked at each other, and Gemma wondered if she had made the right judgement call.
    Then, Melody stood, giving Gemma a crisp nod. ‘Thank you, ma‘am. I won‘t disappoint you.‘ Her round face was set with resolution. ‘And I can promise you something else. My father is going to pay for this, one way or another.‘

    The rest of Friday passed uneventfully, but Gemma was still thinking about her conversation with Melody as she drove to Betty Howard‘s late on Saturday morning. She wondered how much her new knowledge would change her perception of Melody. Already, she better understood both Melody‘s doggedness in pursuing an investigation and her personal reticence. And although she sympathized with Melody‘s desire to stand on her own merits, she thought it unlikely she would be able to keep her identity secret indefinitely. Gemma had kept her word, however, and had not told Duncan, but the omission niggled uncomfortably at her. She didn‘t like him taking the fall for something that had been her fault. It had been she who had taken Melody to Lucas Ritchie‘s club, starting the chain of events that had led to the story, but she couldn‘t see any other alternative.
    It was already hot, and she hadn‘t felt like walking, although driving meant negotiating the jam on Porto-bello Road on market day. The boys had fussed about wanting to see Charlotte — Toby, in particular, was still coveting Charlotte‘s pencils — but they‘d had their own activities.
    Duncan had taken Toby to his Saturday football match, whispering as he left that there was nothing he‘d rather do than sit in the sun in the park and watch a bunch of uncoordinated six-year-olds chase a ball, and Kit was meeting some school friends at Starbucks to discuss an out-of-term project. Or so he said — she suspected there would be a good bit more gossip and music-swapping than discussion, but she was glad to see him getting out a bit more socially.
    She had just found a parking spot near Betty‘s flat when her mobile rang. Her heart skipped a bit when she saw it was her sister, although she had just talked to her mum that morning and Vi had said she was feeling fine.
    ‘Hi, Cyn,‘ she said, hoping as always that if she started the conversation on an upbeat note, it might stay that way.
    ‘Mum said you‘re not coming to Leyton.‘
    ‘I‘m not coming today,‘ Gemma clarified. ‘I told her I‘d bring the boys tomorrow. They‘ve got things on today, and I promised to see Charlotte...‘
    ‘Charlotte? That‘s this little girl Mum says you‘ve taken in?‘
    ‘I haven‘t taken her in.‘ Exasperation was beginning to make Gemma‘s head pound. ‘I arranged for her to stay with Wesley‘s mother, and I feel responsible—‘
    ‘You feel responsible for someone else‘s child and not your own mother?‘ Cyn‘s voice had risen over the sound of her kids, Brendon and Tiffani, squabbling in the background. ‘Will you two just shut it?‘ she shouted without covering the phone, nearly splitting Gemma‘s eardrum, and the noise level dropped momentarily.
    Wincing, Gemma said, ‘Cyn, whatever is the matter with you? That‘s ridiculous. Of course I feel responsible for Mum.‘
    ‘Do you? You haven‘t seen her since she came home from hospital. She‘s so — so frail, and I don‘t... She seems old, Gemma, and I don‘t know what I would do...‘ lb Gemma‘s horror, her ruthlessly unflappable sister sounded near tears.
    ‘They‘ve said it‘s the chemo, Cyn,‘ Gemma hastened to reassure her. ‘Try not to worry.‘
    ‘And she asked me this morning