Chapter 82

Joyce confirms that the rescue center will soon inspect her flat, clearing the way to adopt Alan next week. She notes with relief they didn’t visit earlier, when Sue’s blood, the diamonds, and hidden guns would have failed any ‘fit and proper’ test. Joyce and Ibrahim walk Alan; Ibrahim insists on keeping his name, which suits the dog’s playful spirit.

Joyce shares Alan’s photo with Elizabeth and Ron, updates her Instagram, and accepts Joanna’s advice about her inbox—without changing her notorious username. The thrill of recent events lingers, tempered by grief for Poppy.

Joyce and Elizabeth meet Poppy’s real mother, Siobhan, who had already identified Poppy’s body; the leg scars were from a childhood car accident. Elizabeth returns Poppy’s poetry book, still marked at “An Arundel Tomb.” The friends plan to attend the funeral next week, with Ron bringing flowers for Siobhan and Ibrahim driving.

Elizabeth admits feeling stung that Douglas told Sue to stay close to her to find the diamonds, but Joyce reframes it: Douglas trusted Elizabeth would expose Sue. This perspective lifts Elizabeth’s mood.

Seeking calm, Joyce plans lunch for Joanna and a visiting football chairman, inviting Ron and opting for a roast. She vows to keep the diamonds’ fate a secret among the four friends. Finally, Joyce reveals a personal secret: during the Fairhaven turmoil, she quietly got a small poppy tattoo high on her left arm—hidden, meaningful, and still sore.