Dishonour. Helen Black

got out of her chair, the flesh of her bottom making a small sucking sound as it was prised away. She walked to the window and looked outside.

      ‘Being a prosecutor in Luton is not a great job,’ she said, ‘but even I’m getting excited by an honour killing.’

      Taslima too, was excited. On the drive to court Lilly had told her about Yasmeen Khan. At first her family thought she’d committed suicide, which would have been terrible enough, then the police discovered it was murder. Taslima hadn’t been able to speak for fear of showing how inexperienced she was. A murder. It was like something on the telly. And she could imagine how the poor mother was feeling. Not only had she lost her daughter, but now her son had been accused by the police. Unspeakable.

      Lilly joined Kerry at the window. From where Taslima was standing she couldn’t see the view but she knew it would be grey.