He had believed he did not remember the cottage well, but it all came back now. Of course it did. It was all still here, as solid as ever. He had thought himself prepared, but he’d been shocked to find Malcolm an old man, and Heather gone. He wasn’t so delusional to think time had stood still in his absence, but somehow this knowledge didn’t seem to have sunk in: he’d still expected to find Malcolm and Heather as they always had been, vigorous and tough, Malcolm out all hours tending to the croft, Heather working behind the counter in the shop or making deliveries or knitting in the front room. Tom hadn’t been sure he’d receive a warm welcome, given how he’d neglected them over the years, and how he’d behaved before he left. But he had still believed they would be here waiting for him. (He’d wept over Heather’s death in his old bedroom that first evening, amazed at how readily the tears came. He hadn’t really known her, after all.)

At lunchtime, he went upstairs and retrieved his phone from the bottom of his rucksack. He stared at it reluctantly for a few seconds, then switched it on for the first time since leaving London. One bar of signal. After a moment, a message appeared from Caroline, dated two days back: Just let me know you’re safe, will you?

Not allowing himself to think about it too much, Tom typed out a quick reply. Yes, I’m safe. I’m on the island. Hope you’re O.K. Wavering for a moment, he added, I’m sorry, then quickly pressed send, watched to make sure the message was delivered, and switched the phone off again.

Restless now, he went back downstairs and put on his borrowed coat and boots. No rain today—not so far. He stepped outside into the cold air, not bothering to lock the door behind him as he left; nobody locked their doors here, something Tom had taken for granted as a child but which felt strange now. He could walk straight into any house on the island, take whatever he wanted, give the owners a scare. But there had never been any crime here except for his father’s, and why bother locking your door when the only danger was already inside?