It was gone seven o'clock but still warm enough to sit there in her wet costume so she started her picnic and drank some wine.

Across the beach were some girls playing. They were wearing their swimsuits with T-shirts over them. They were lined up and singing like a girl band, one of them pretending to hold a microphone. When they finished their song they laughed and elbowed each other.

The sight of them made Kate smile. It made her think again of the letter she had sent. So far
there had been no reply. Had she expected one? She'd taken a chance sending it at all. Every part of her knew that. It was part of the conditions of her release that she should never contact any of the people involved in that terrible day nine years ago.

Julia had reiterated this from time to time. "Under no circumstances must you make any contact either physically or by any other means with a person or persons involved in the events at Berwick Waters."

Kate thought of the names of those involved.

Lucy Bussell; Michelle's parents - Donna and Frank Livingstone.

But Kate had had things she needed to say so she had written "Dear Lucy" and signed it "Yours, Jennifer Jones". She started to pack up her stuff. She decided to walk further up the coastal path and find a place on the top of the cliffs to sit and watch the sun go down. She had her book and the rest
of the wine and some fruit. She'd have a solitary picnic. She spent a lot of time alone; it suited her.