The next morning, Lofty, when asked who he'd like to sit with him at breakfast, replied shyly:

"Mrs Beauchamp, please."

With some trepidation she came and sat beside him, bringing her tray over. The waitress had again helped Lofty, asking what he wanted to eat and drink, and sorting out his tray for him.

He took a small sip of his drink and then said:

"Mrs Beauchamp, I've two things to say."

She waited for the outburst, but her throat grew tight when he almost whispered:

"Mrs Beauchamp, I'm sorry I was clumsy and brought shame on the school yesterday at breakfast."

"Ben, sweetheart, you need to listen to me. You were not clumsy. You were very unlucky and dropped your tray. And… Ben, I snapped at you because I'd been really stupid and drank too many cocktails, and so my head hurt and I was mean to you because of that. Will you forgive me?"

He wanted to give her a big fat hug but knew he could knock all the food over, so he just beamed at her and nodded.

"And what's the other thing, Ben?"

"Please, when we get home tonight, do I have to tell my mum and dad what happened? Because they'd worry. And they might say I can't come to your school any more. And I'd be in bits if they said that."

Mrs Beauchamp's heart sank. If Ben was called back to give evidence later, his nightmare could start all over again.

"But what if… if you have bad dreams?"

"I can pretend I got scared in Phantom Manor today."

"O…kay. Looking forward to Phantom Manor?"

"Loads… but can somebody keep hold of my hand when we're walking?"

"Bet you Mr Keogh will."

Mrs Beauchamp wanted Mr Keogh to look after Lofty for a particular reason. She herself needed to talk to Cal. She had her chance when, cases all packed and left at the hotel to be sent straight to the station for retrieval later, they all walked the short distance to the parks for the last time.

"Cal, can I have a quiet word?"

Cal nodded, but wondered what he'd done.

They drew aside from the others.

"You know what you told Ben and Ethan, about the bad guys taking kids as slaves? Is that what you think really happens?"

Cal sighed.

"No, Mrs Beauchamp. I overheard Dad on about it. It's…" he shuddered, "Dead disgusting. But I had to tell our Ethan something last year because he kept nagging and nagging to walk down to the Haunted Playground after school on his own. Said he wasn't afraid of no ghosts. So I told him about the slaves and he got scared and won't go there at all now, not even with me. Oh, Mrs Beauchamp, I kept thinking yesterday about Ben and…" once more the small boy shuddered, all his confidence gone again.

"Ben's safe, and you were clever to make up that story, Cal."

"Mrs Beeeeeauchamp! Louise has got Snap and she won't let me hold him!"

"Our Ethan!" Cal half-sighed, half-giggled.