Sullivan made up for his lost time at the station, and Sid felt that he spent so much time in Sullivan's house he may as well start redecorating. He was lying on the sofa one day daydreaming about where he'd put the clock when the phone rang.

Unfortunately, he only remembered what had happened the last time he'd answered the phone after he had answered the phone.

"Edgar?"

Oh dear God. How could this possibly be happening again.

"Eh no, it's um, Sid Carter again... The plumber. I'm fixing the Inspector's bathtub."

He cringed at his terrible lie, and prayed that Sullivan's dad was not a man who would ask questions about how he was getting on.

"Where's Edgar?""He's still at the station - works very hard he does. Mm hmm." Sid nodded reassuradly to the empty room.

Luckily, Sullivan senior seemed to be in a much calmer mood today.

"Well Mr Carter, I was wondering if you might be able to assist me."

Sid was surprised by how posh and polite the man seemed to be. Maybe Sullivan had rang him and gave him a proper talking to about the way he treated his lover- his plumber!

"Yeah?"

"I'm afraid I've grown rather forgetful of late, and I've quite forgotten my son's address. If you wouldn't mind reassuring me - I do know it's in Gloucestershire, correct?"

"Yes." Sid agreed uncertainly.

"A little village, Kanderwood, is it?"

"No, Kembleford."

"Oh yes, of course. Thank you very much, you see... Edgar's birthday is fast approaching and it would be a dreadful shame not to send him a birthday card, seeing that we hardly see each other because of his work. This time of year I tend to feel rather lonely, and the thought of losing links with my only son is really too much to bear."

Sid's heart softened. He repeated the rest of the address and promised to keep quiet about it, as Sullivan Sr wanted to send a surprise in the post.

He felt a little guilty after his previous encounters with the man, and the presumptions that followed. Still, he must be quite elderly now, and he didn't like the thought of Sullivan being so cut off from everyone. It would be nice to know there was someone who cared.

By the time Sullivan came home, Sid had practically forgotten his conversation with Mr Sullivan Sr, (In truth, he'd read the paper several times and consequencely fell asleep on the sofa) and never mentioned it to him. His old man must have turned a corner, and he didn't want to spoil the surprise.

The evening progressed in its usual fashion, and after Sullivan had left for work the next morning Sid left a few minutes breathing space, and vaulted over the wall in the garden in order not to be seen leaving through the front door.

He landed steadily on his feet, then walked straight into something solid. Something with feet, that stood on his toe.

"Sidney?"

The pain in his toe vanished at the sight of Father Brown eyeing him quizzically.

"What are you doing here?"

Sid panicked and quickly tried to conjur up an excuse.

"Just fancied a walk, that's all. Thought that Mrs Gilbride round the corner might want some odd jobs doing that kind of thing."

He smiled. Very much a please believe me grin.

The Father didn't look convinced.

"Hey, did you hear about that canary turning up in the fruit shop? Reckon it came all the way from Arabia with them nuts."

"Oh yes!" The Father's attention was diverted, and they walked on pleasently.

Sid was pretty sure he still suspected something though.