The room was silent. Everyone was looking at Lizzie and Vey in utter disbelief. Vey stood up and walked around his side of the room. His usually calm face was screwed up in anguish, and he stopped and opened his mouth several times but nothing came out.
Thordric broke the silence, curiosity and concern fuelling him to speak. ‘Is it true, Vey?’ he asked quietly. Vey stopped and met his gaze, then silently gave a slight incline of his head, his tears splashing to the floor.
‘I-I would never have known,’ the inspector said. ‘My own nephew! I didn’t even recognise you.’
‘That was the point, Uncle. I thought that if you couldn’t recognise me, then it was unlikely mother would either,’ Vey said, his voice trembling slightly.
‘You thought that I wouldn’t recognise you?’ Lizzie said. ‘I know i
