I was about to switch it off and go back downstairs when a message appeared in the bottom left-hand side of the screen.

White text on black.

Boot sequence interrupted_

A blinking cursor instead of a full stop. Our PC had been getting slower and slower, but I’d never seen that message before.

The words disappeared. A black, blank screen.

Black.

Black.

Then two words.

Hello Joe_

Chapter 34

34

For a few seconds I just stared at the words, at the blinking cursor after my name, wondering whether this was part of the computer’s recovery sequence. A plunging sensation in the pit of my stomach told me it wasn’t.

The greeting disappeared and was replaced by a line of text.

I bet your wondering what the fucks going on?_

I couldn’t breathe. I was paralysed, the breath trapped in my lungs. Again the text disappeared. Again it was replaced by another line of text.

Let me explain_

She said she still loves you and cant leave you because your a good man_

The BEST KINDEST man she has ever met_

She was everything to me but she destroyed what we had_

FOR YOU_

You worthless pathetic piece of shit_

The words began to scroll up the screen now, quicker, each line coming so fast I could barely read it before the next appeared.

Think you can beat me? That your better than me?_

Im going to break you_

Your whole fucking life is about being the GOOD MAN. How about SUSPECTED MURDERER instead?_

Naylor’s words returned to me: A full ‘proof-of-life’ inquiry.

I hit the print screen button three times and was greeted with a sullen beep. The printer was off. Damn. Get a picture. I patted my pockets for my mobile phone. Not there. Shit. It was charging downstairs. I was torn between wanting to see the rest of the message and needing to photograph it as evidence. The message continued scrolling, lines of text disappearing as new ones appeared.

Im going to destroy your reputation_

Im going to destroy your marriage_

Then Im going to destroy you_

Noone will believe you and that will make it all the sweeter_

This is going to be the best game yet_

Adios_

I ran downstairs to get my mobile, grabbed it off the kitchen worktop, charger and all, ran back upstairs and crashed back into the study.

Just in time to see the last words on the monitor disappear.

I hit the escape key. Back arrow. Return, backspace, delete. All the keys at once.

But it was gone. The webcam light had gone off too.

The computer beeped happily and the normal login prompt appeared on the screen, alongside my regular screensaver – a picture of me, William and Mel.

Ben, you bastard.

The force of my fist slamming onto the desk was enough to make the mouse jump and land upside down with a clatter.

Think.