“We’ve got every right to be here!”

Mari frowned and hurried up. The main doors of the workshop next door were open and the three lads who had rented it from her were standing facing an older man. “What’s going on?”

Alyn, the oldest of them, turned. “It’s a policeman, Mrs Hewson. He wants to know what we’re doing?”

“But we haven’t even fired up the compressors or anything like that,” Gryff, the next oldest chimed in.

“And we even bought the cars fair and square,” Leo, the youngest added, glaring at the policeman.

Mari hid a grin. Leo didn’t look much older than a spotty sixteen year old and he was trying to face down an older and probably wiser man that was far sturdier than the gangling kids here. She marched over to the policeman and frowned. “Carwyn Knowles, is that you? I was talking to your mam last night and she said you were coming back but I never thought I’d see you here.”

“It’s DC Knowles now, Mari, and I’m just stopping by, now that I’ve been assigned to Wrexham.” He looked over at the youngsters. “And I’ll be keeping an eye on the place.”

“It’s not like that,” Mari said. “I’ve had background checks and everything done.”

Carwyn glanced at her before looking back at the lads in front of him. “So where’s Sion, then? I haven’t seen your husband for years.”

“I’m sure your mam will tell you all about it,” Mari said tartly. “She always knows what’s going on.”

Carwyn glared at her, but then looked at the lads. “I’m just having a quiet word with Mrs Hewson in private,” he said. “Then I’ll be off. But don’t think that I’m not keeping an eye on you. And I’ll want to see the bills of sale for any cars that you’re picking up.” He caught a gentle hold of Mari’s arm and guided her outside. “Mari, we’re old friends. I wouldn’t get in the way of doing business. But those lads, well, appearances can be deceptive. You don’t know what you’re dealing with.”

“The last tenants weren’t brilliant,” Mari admitted. “But the estate agent said that these lads passed all the checks. And they’re only young and starting out. I’m willing to take a risk on them.”

“You’ve got grandchildren, Mari,” Carwyn said. “You can’t risk them with strangers. And estate agents don’t run checks like the police. I’m telling you, they aren’t all they seem.”

Mari straightened a little. “Your mam has a heart of gold, heaven knows, and is the kindest person I know, but she knows more about what goes on around here than any copper. She’ll tell you exactly where my grandkids are. And young Leo there is about the age of my Toby, and Gryff’s about the age of Alice, and at least it’s something to keep me busy.” She held up her hand. “But I’ll be careful.”

“Here’s my card,” Carwyn said. “I’m mainly based in Wrexham, and I can be here in ten minutes. If you have any worries or see anything strange, call me – at any time.” His eyes flicked back to the defiant lads in the workshop. “Take care of yourself.”

Mari watched him go and then turned back to the lads. “I thought I’d call around to see how you were doing, and I’m glad I did.” She frowned. “Have you been in trouble?”

Alyn shook his head. “Our Da, he was always in trouble,” he said, his eyes drifting to the large box in Mari’s hands. “That’s why we moved here. We wanted to do the right thing.”

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“And it’s nice and quiet here,” Gryff added. He looked past Mari and over to the hills. “And we can get out into the countryside.”

“I’d rather spend time with cars than trees,” Leo grumbled.

“How about something to keep you going until your dinner,” Mari said as she lifted the box. “I was at a loose end and I thought I’d get some baking done.”

“Thanks, Mrs Hewson,” Alyn said, shoving Gryff. “Get the plates.” He looked back at Mari. “And we can make you a cup of tea or coffee if you’d like.”

“But the coffee’s only supermarket instant coffee,” Leo said. “Because Alyn’s cheap like that.”

“But none of us drink coffee so why spend the money,” Alyn argued.

“Because we don’t want to give Mrs Hewson bad coffee.” Leo snapped.

“And we’ve only got these plastic plates,” Gryff said, coming back from the tiny kitchenette. “We need something nice for Mrs Hewson.”

“Oh, don’t worry about me,” Mari said. “I’ve never needed a fuss and I like a nice cup of tea. Here, I brought chocolate chip cookies, burnt butter biscuits and gingersnaps.” She placed the container down on the dusty bench. “But you’d better wash your hands first. You don’t want my baking to taste of oil.”

“No!” Gryff said. “Especially if you’ve made the ginger snaps.”

Mari smiled as the lads stampeded to the small washroom. The checks from the estate agent had them all aged in their early twenties, but they seemed so much younger. She prowled around. Her late husband had rented the workshop out last time and she’d never really known those people, but these lads were different. Perhaps she was missing her daughter and grandkids more than she thought.

The boxes abandoned by the last tenants were stacked in a corner and Mari paced over to them. She’d never felt like looking in them. She’d never really bothered with the workshop at all. Now she hoped that they wouldn’t get in the way of the lads. She turned and, out of the corner of her eye, noticed something. As she leaned forward, she saw a couple of sports bags spilling over with clothes and three thin sleeping bags.

She could hear them arguing in the kitchen. They squabbled and fought relentlessly, but they had a closeness that she recognised. It was the closeness of people who had shared hard times, really hard times. She could hear Sion’s voice echoing in her head – Don’t get too involved, Mari. These people will take advantage. You need to keep a distance. Don’t let them make a fool of you. She walked briskly around the rest of the workshop. The large open space was taken up by tools, strange machines and what she had been told was a Volvo and a very elderly Mini. Both cars were in pieces but it looked like there was a purpose. Then she was back at the bench and running a critical eye over things.

“Would you like milk and sugar in your tea?” Gryff asked.

“Just milk, please,” Mari said. She shook her head. “I’m sure that you’d be better if this place had a bit of a clean. You’ll have all the fumes and dirt from the cars. You may as well run a rag over the benches and sweep the floor while you’re at it.”

Alyn and Leo exchanged glances as Gryff fussed over the cheap mugs. “We’re sort of busy,” Alyn said.

Mari read the helpless, confused glances pretty well. “Why don’t I come around tomorrow afternoon and make a start for you,” she said. “I like to keep busy. I won’t come around if you think I’m intruding, though.”

“No! I mean, no, you’re welcome of course,” Alyn said.

“We couldn’t keep you out, Mrs Hewson,” Gryff said. “It wouldn’t be right.”

“And it’s probably illegal, with you being our landlord,” Leo added.

“Oh, just because I’m your landlord doesn’t mean I can just dance in and out as I like,” Mari said. “But I like to keep busy and it’ll be good to lend a hand.” She pushed Sion’s voice to the back of her mind. “And you can come around to Sunday dinner as well. It’s not worth making just for one, so I’ll expect you at 1pm, sharp.” She glanced at their mingled expressions of hope and concern. “You don’t need to dress up,” she added. “Though not in your overalls and with clean hands.” She watched the lads relax slightly.

Alyn glanced at his brothers and caught their infinitesimal nods. “We’ll be very glad to be there, Mrs Hewson.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow, around 2pm if that suits you,” Mari said, taking a sip of her tea. “You’ve got work to do and I don’t want to get in your way.”

She watched the lads as they ate her biscuits far too quickly and squabbled. They were far too skinny, and heaven knows it didn’t look like anyone had bothered to teach them fancy manners. There was a rough kindness in them, though, and they were respectful enough around her. She shouldn’t interfere, not with adults, but she could keep an eye out for them and at least it would keep her busy.