‘Better? He’s not better. He’s clinging on, trying to get through the days. He’s hurting, Tom. I don’t know why, but he’s hurting. For most people life’s a mixture of good and bad. If you’re lucky you get more of the former than the latter. For Roland, life’s a series of problems and worries. So don’t pity me. Save it for that brother of yours.’

‘I will.’

‘And how are you doing?’ His dad fixed him with his dark brown eyes. Despite his illness, his gaze was still sharp and penetrating. ‘You seem a bit down.’

Tom did not want to burden his dad with any other concerns. ‘I’m OK, Dad. Tired. Still not sleeping much.’

‘And Alice? How’s she?’

‘She’s tied up in this serial killer story.’

‘I’ll bet she is.’

‘I wish she’d stop. The letters have come to our house. It’s frightening.’

His dad nodded slowly. ‘It would be.’

‘What would you do, if it was Mum?’

His dad puffed out his cheeks. ‘I’d have told her to go for it. This is the story of her life. It could make her career.’ He paused. ‘But more than that, this is what she chose. This is her passion. You can’t ask her to turn an opportunity like this down. Sorry, son. But that’s what I think. You have to be bold. You only live once.’

‘So you’d be OK with it?’

‘I would. I’d add some locks to my doors and windows, make sure the cops were nearby, and tell my wife to do what she needed to do.’

It was not what he had been expecting to hear, but it was strangely welcome.

‘Thanks, Dad.’

‘No problem. Anyway, I’m getting tired. I’m going to have a nap. But before I do, how about a cuddle with my granddaughter?’

Roland was in the garden with his mum. His forearms were lined with scars.

‘How’s Dad?’ he said.

‘Gone to sleep.’

‘He’s tired these days,’ his mum said. Every time she talked about her husband, Tom was acutely aware of how much she was going to miss him. They’d been married for nearly forty years. He’d been a constant fixture in her life; Tom couldn’t fathom how she would be able to adjust when he was gone.

‘He gave me some good advice, though. About Alice and the letters.’

‘I bet I can imagine what it was,’ his mum said.

‘What do you think he said?’ Roland asked.

‘I think he said she should go for it and you should support her.’

Tom nodded. ‘In a nutshell.’

‘It’s good advice, and it’s very your dad,’ she said. ‘But let me give you some advice too. You need to be comfortable with the decision you and Alice make, Tom. That’s as important as blind devotion to your wife.’