The words lingered, acrid as smoke from a cigarette rich and heavy, full of meaning, choking, unstoppable.

Amelia's feet were rooted to the floor, her mind spinning round in circles attempting to make head or tail of what she'd just heard. Her heart was a lump of lead, hammering against brickwork with every beat.

"It cost someone their life."

Her lips parted, but she did nothing. Numbness by shock starved her. She would have spoken, had bellowed for the truth, but her voice caught in her ...