And now she was calling him.

‘Where are you?’ she asked when he picked up.

Abbott might have hoped for concern or maybe even a rebuke. Funny that now he was sober he would quite happily have settled for the pity that he had hated so much when he was drunk. Instead, her voice was totally neutral. Dead.

‘I’m in Derby,’ he told her.

‘And what are you doing in Derby?’

‘Something tells me that you know the answer to that question.’

‘Oh, we’re back to that again, are we?’

‘No, no, we’re not back to that, I promise. I’m sorry and I’m sorry and I’m so, so, fucking sorry for what happened the other night. Sorry to you, sorry to Phil – he’s great, by the way – sorry to the kids.’

‘Look, I understand, and Phil understands. It’s not like you’ve made a friend, but he understands, because . . .’

‘Because what?’

‘God, I don’t know, Alex, because you’re probably suffering from PTSD. Alcoholism, too, I shouldn’t wonder. I mean, I knew you drank a lot, but not . . . that much.’

‘I’m doing something about it.’

‘Like what?’

‘I haven’t touched a drop since that night.’

‘Good. And now you’re sober do you understand why I lied to you?’

‘I think so.’

‘I did it for your own good. Because I didn’t want—’

‘Me to come to Derby. Because you know why I’m here, don’t you?’

‘Yes, I know. And I want you to stop.’

‘Stop and just let things be?’

‘Why not?’

‘Can’t do that, I’m afraid.’

‘You need to be careful, Alex.’

‘What makes you say that?’

‘Because . . .’

‘Tell me what you know, Tess.’

‘Not much. Just that Scutter has links to some dangerous people in that area.’

He thought of the name Cuckoo had given him. Doyle.

‘I’ll be careful,’ he told Tess.

‘Jesus,’ she sighed. ‘Spare me the testosterone. Look, I’ve got to go. I’ll speak to you soon, OK?’

The call ended. Abbott thought about Tess. How unwittingly she had set the wheels in motion.

Unwittingly?

Or wittingly?

Was it possible that there was some part of Tess that consciously or subconsciously had intended for all this to happen? Did she like the danger, perhaps? He’d spent years wondering what had attracted the beautiful and intelligent Tess Lacey to him back at school, when she could have had her pick.

Maybe he should take it at face value. She really was trying to protect him. But then why tell him in the first place?

Or maybe, on second thoughts, he should stop trying to figure her out and get on with the job.

He looked back at the pub. Was it his imagination or had there been a figure at the window?

Thinking about what Tess had said. Dangerous people.

Dangerous people to whom he might just have given his name.

Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16