He pulled Tim along the tunnel and propped up Sally and staggered on and on. Every step he thought he couldn’t take another one, but every step he did. And finally, he started to see light.

Light at the end of the tunnel.

He spluttered, laughed. As the pinprick of light expanded. And became the size of a postage stamp, a door and then finally the entrance.

He quickened his step, feeling energy seeping out of him. He made it to the gate, hurling Tim Claypath through with the last of his reserves. He got Sally out and she murmured something, as if in thanks.

They were okay. Everything was going to be okay.

“What the hell?” He looked up to see a man in a reflective vest. A van with the Canal & River Trust logo was parked to the side of the entrance.

That was all he saw before he collapsed.

Chapter Seventy-Four

Two months later...

Robin got there first and ordered two coffees. He watched the freeway, with the cars flying past—people in a hurry to get where they were going. He remembered what it was like to be someone like that, but since Sam’s funeral he had been content to sit back and let everyone else do the rushing around.

The coffees came, and he wondered if she was going to show up.

As he did, a voice said, “This seat taken?” He looked up to see Sally there, smiling. She slid into the booth, placing a packet on the table. “Hi, Robin.”

“Hey,” he said. She looked good, a lot better than the last time he’d seen her, when he’d visited her in the hospital. She had been impossibly pale then. Now she looked full of life. “How are you?”

“I’m better. Still not fantastic. But better.” She smiled. “You?”

“Same,” he said, pushing a coffee toward her.

Sally took it and took a sip. “Have you heard the news?”

“That all the Five got arrested? Or that Matthew’s free?”

“Neither. Roger Claypath resigned today. He stood up in front of the whole world and said he’d got it wrong. He offered a public apology to Matthew, and to the entire community. It must have burned him to the very core to have to do that. I heard he’s going to move away with his wife. Would be just like him to run away,” Sally said, matter-of-factly. “I have this for you.” She slid the gray packet into the center of the table.

“What is it?” Robin said.

“It’s from a friend.” Robin went to pick it up, but Sally’s hand shot out and stopped him. “Maybe open it when I’ve gone. I was told it’s only for you.”

Robin retracted his hand. “Okay.”

Sally smiled. “I can’t stop. I’ve got somewhere to be.”

Robin nodded. “Of course. Going back to The Red Door?”