Jameson watched the clock on the dashboard. It clicked from 15.46 to 15.47. The car shunted him left then right then left again as Bloom threw them around the country bends. Would Lana really hurt Jane? He had no idea. But Bloom was driving as if her life depended on it. And Bloom knew psychopaths. The clock clicked to 15.48. The train would pass through South Milford any minute now. He watched Bloom’s phone. It didn’t ring. The clock clicked on to 15.50.

‘Should I call back?’ he said.

They jumped at the sound of Bloom’s ringtone. Jameson grabbed it. ‘Dr Bloom’s phone.’

‘Is she there? It’s Caroline.’

‘She’s driving. Hold on, I’m putting you on speaker.’

‘Caroline,’ said Bloom. ‘Can you hear me? I’m in a rental car so no hands-free.’

‘I can hear you. There’s a patrol heading to South Milford for a jumper. Are you OK?’

Caroline’s tone softened for the last question. Caroline clearly knew something.

‘Fine,’ said Bloom, in a manner that indicated quite the opposite. ‘Is there any news?’

‘The site is clear. No one there except our officers.’

‘Keep them there … please.’

‘The express trains to and from Hull have been through and it’s an hour until the next one. We’ll go back at four thirty.’

‘OK. We’ll be there soon.’

‘Is that wise, Augusta?’

‘It’s a station, Caroline. I’ll cope. It’s not like I was there last time, is it?’

‘I know, but …’

The line fell quiet and Jameson glanced at Bloom. Her jaw was locked and her eyes fixed on the road.

‘I’ve a meeting this afternoon,’ said Caroline, ‘but I can get out of it if you want me there too.’

‘That won’t be necessary.’

‘I’ll see what I can do,’ said Caroline and then hung up.

‘She’s protective of you.’ Jameson placed Bloom’s phone beside his. Bloom said nothing. ‘Who jumped?’

Bloom kept her eyes on the road and her hands tight on the steering wheel. ‘Someone very important to me … Someone I cared about. I was supposed to …’ She came to a junction and turned left. ‘I let them down and I’ll never forgive myself.’

‘When?’

‘Fifteen years ago.’

Jameson did the maths. She’d have been in her late twenties. Had she had a lover? Had she broken someone’s heart? He looked at Bloom. Was this why she was so resolutely single? It would make sense.

46

South Milford contained nothing more than a petrol station and a couple of pubs. Bloom parked the rented Seat in the station’s small car park. There were only four other cars there. The station had two platforms and was deserted. Jameson checked the four cars: all were empty.

‘So what now?’ he said.

‘Let’s walk down to the main street in case they’ve parked there.’