‘Don’t be silly. Unless you’ve got some boring murder to go to.’

‘I hope to God not, Han – too many of those just lately.’

‘What’s Lafferton coming to?’

‘You may ask. Though it’s more a question of what’s Starly coming to.’

‘Dopey Starly?’

‘In more than one sense.’

‘Oh, drugs schmugs.’

He glanced at her. ‘I shouldn’t ask,’ he said, ‘and I promised myself I would never wag my finger at any of you, but I’ve seen too much –’

‘I smoked a joint a couple of times and it made me really really sick. Throwing-up sick, enough to put me right off, and apart from that I swear on whatever you like that I have never and will never go near any drugs. I’ve seen stuff as well.’ There was no response. ‘Did you hear me?’

‘What? Sorry, Hannah, yes, I was just thinking about something. When we get to the farmhouse, I have to check out a phone number.’

‘Light bulb moment?’

‘Candle, anyway.’

They all arrived home in dribs and drabs, Simon and Hannah going up the drive moments before Felix’s lift, because on Friday he stayed at school for homework, tea and late choir, and three sets of the parents shared pickups. He was halfway up the stairs with his bag and his oboe when he realised that the voice greeting him from the kitchen was not his mother’s and tumbled back down again to be enveloped in an overwhelming sisterly hug, which Kieron’s arrival interrupted.

He had been cautious with Cat’s children since their marriage, never trying to claim either attention or precedence, just being there, taking things as they came, not crowding them. Inevitably, he knew Felix best because they were at home together and Kieron had taken him into early-morning choir practice from the beginning, because it was on his route into the station and he liked to start early. Hannah had been away much of the time, so that he knew her the least well but the hug she gave him was immediate and genuine.

Simon made a pot of tea, and even got his brother-in-law his own mint brew, and as he did it, as Hannah and Felix chatted behind him, he thought about the phone number, letting it run through his head on repeat.

He set the tea and mugs on the table, and went into the den. Wookie pattered after him, his limp making the sound of his feet out of sync on the tiles. He lay down at Simon’s feet. Recalling the number and keying it into his phone took seconds. It matched.

In the kitchen, Hannah and Kieron were planning supper and Felix had gone upstairs. Simon gestured to the sitting room.

‘Something?’ Kieron said.

Simon filled him in.

‘Well, you’ve a better head for numbers than me – you’re probably right. What are you going to do?’