‘Why not?’

‘Shouldn’t you leave it to the police?’

‘The police aren’t bothered, that’s why I’m doing it.’

‘And Hannah is helping too?’

‘She knows Mel best.’

‘Doesn’t she have exams?’

‘Exams aren’t for ages,’ Jenny said. She resisted the urge to say that he should know that.

‘I just think, with Jim passing and everything, I don’t know if you and our daughter should be getting involved in this.’

That use of ‘our daughter’ really got to Jenny. A way to apply pressure and link himself to her and Hannah.

Liam tipped up his glass and finished his beer, folded the paper and laid it on the bar. Jenny thought of Hannah asking around about Mel, Dorothy asking about Jim and the money, the pair of them at that old man’s house with the spy cameras. She scooped her G&T as Liam said goodbye to his barmaid. So he wasn’t waiting for her to come off shift, take her back to his studio and fuck her brains out. Or maybe he was heading there now to get the place ready for her. Either way, Jenny had to find out.

‘It’s none of your business what me and Hannah get involved in,’ she said.115

Liam was at the door of the pub, a blast of traffic noise and splash of evening light as he opened it and was gone.

Craig cleared his throat down the line. ‘I just think—’

‘Sorry,’ Jenny said, getting up. ‘I don’t give a shit what you think and I have to go.’

She hung up, put her phone away and followed Liam out of the pub.

116

22

HANNAH

The Old Bell was dead and the Quantum Club were in their usual corner around two small tables at the far end of the bar. It was gloomy, dark-burgundy leatherette seats and black beams across a low ceiling. In winter it might’ve been cosy, but with autumn sunshine outside it seemed perverse to be cowering in the darkness.

Hannah was ready to get stuck in as she walked towards them. There were seven of them, two girls and five guys, including Xander and Bradley. All of them had frothy brown drinks in front of them, Deuchars eighty shilling or IPA. Louise and Ayesha had halves, the rest pints. Lovely bit of conforming to gender stereotypes, Hannah thought.

She caught Xander’s eye and he looked away. He was boxed into the corner by Louise, who was sitting close to him, legs almost touching.

‘Have you heard from Mel?’ Xander said as she reached the table.

Louise reached for her drink and sipped, eyes averted.

Hannah shook her head, partly answering his question, partly in disgust at him sitting here drinking with the rest of them when Mel was gone.

‘What the hell do you care?’ Hannah said, which made them all stare.

‘What?’ Xander said. He looked uncomfortable and Hannah was glad.