I know, without having to hear any more, that the body on the train line will be Jamesy Harte.

Most people, of course, have no reason to think it could be Jamesy. Most people don’t know that he has been living in Portstewart, or that the police called at his flat this morning to find him missing. Most people don’t know that the police were looking to talk to him about what happened in Derry last night, or that when he had gone missing, he had left behind his phone, his wallet and even his keys.

If I can get through to DC Mark Black, I think, I might just be able to have an off-the-record briefing on what they’ve found. I’ll be able to see if my hunch is right. I’m not sure whether I want it to be or not. Jamesy’s sad face, his bowed demeanour, comes into my head. His fear at being found. But also what others have told me. That the police believe there’s a possibility he is behind the brutal attack on Liam Doherty last night.

I keep a burner phone for occasions such as checking in with illicit police contacts. It’s to protect them as much as it is to protect me. A cheap pay as you go that I picked up for thirty pounds in Argos and that only facilitates calls and text messages. It’s not registered. It can’t be traced (I paid cash, just in case) and there are only a handful of numbers on it. People I know I can turn to for information when none is forthcoming through official channels. I replace it every couple of months, to be extra safe.

As soon as traffic allows, I pull my car over into a lay-by and delve in my glovebox until my hand touches the phone. It needs a quick charge, just enough to allow me to send the message, and it’s good to go.

Need your help with train timetable. I’d appreciate a reply asap.

I send it to DC Black’s personal mobile. As codes go, it’s pretty pathetic. I don’t think anyone would kill themselves trying to decipher it, but it gets the point across. I hope. If it is Jamesy, this is a huge story. Bigger than anything I’d originally thought of.

Ryan will wet himself over it, I’m sure he will. He’ll forget all about his vow not to bring attention to Jamesy Harte and he’ll go big on the story. With my stomach fizzing with nerves, in a heady mixture of fear, adrenaline and excitement I decide to drive straight to Ryan’s house.