She shook her head. ‘No. That’s not possible.’

‘Then how do you explain the timing?’

‘It’s a coincidence, Tom.’

‘No,’ he said. ‘It isn’t. Where were you?’

‘I went for a walk.’

‘I called. Your phone went to voicemail.’

‘It’s out of battery,’ Alice said. ‘I went for a walk.’

‘I thought’ – he shook his head – ‘never mind. You want me to read this?’

She nodded, and he walked into the living room, opened the letter and sat down.

Alice!

I am afraid that you have pushed my patience too far. Don’t say you weren’t warned. I told you last time that this is not about YOU. It is about ME.

This is the last missive you will receive from me, but it is not the last time you will hear from me.

I cannot allow this to go unpunished, so we will meet face-to-face, Alice.

You are next.

When, where, how: these are details. What matters is only this: You are NEXT.

‘What does it say?’ Alice asked.

Ambleside, July 2013

Alice

Brenda took off her shirt. She was wearing shorts and a tank top; Alice noticed again how muscular her arms and shoulders were. She stepped into the lake until the water was up to her thighs.

‘It’s bloody cold,’ she said. ‘But it’ll be OK once we’re used to it. Come in!’

Alice laughed. ‘I’m freezing just watching you. Maybe I’ll give it a miss.’

‘OK,’ Brenda said. ‘I’m going to take the plunge.’ She turned and dived into the black water of the lake, disappearing from view for a few seconds. She surfaced a few yards away and swept her blonde hair back from her face.

‘It’s nice once you’re in!’ She duck-dived and began to swim with a smooth, powerful stroke. It wasn’t long before she was twenty or thirty yards away. She turned and beckoned to Alice.

‘Come on!’

Alice knelt by the water and put her hand in. It really was cold, but if Brenda could do it, she could too.

Although she didn’t have to. She glanced at Brenda’s bag. How much cash was in there? Was it safe to leave it unattended, even for a few minutes? If someone saw it they could empty it in seconds.

There was no one to see. It was only her and Brenda, who didn’t know Alice knew she had the money. If she had known, she might not have left it with her. Alice could grab it and run off – although she was pretty sure Brenda would catch her quickly enough.

Or she could simply transfer the envelopes to her rucksack when Brenda wasn’t looking. Not all of them – she’d miss them – but a few.

It was a good job she was not that kind of person. Brenda ought to be more careful.