‘I’ll just put some peas on,’ said Norma, getting up. ‘Ready in about seven minutes, okay?’

‘Lovely,’ said Thea, just as her phone pinged to announce a text.

‘Got your message – extraordinary! Where are you now? Can I phone you? Not sure I should, if you’re into something delicate. For God’s sake be careful. C. B.’

It struck Thea that nobody knew where she was. Not Gladwin, or Ben or Drew or Clovis. The phone was a false friend, useless unless she employed it to inform somebody of her whereabouts. And she did not know the name of the house. Suddenly it hit her that everything was wrong. She was yet again idling about when out there was every kind of wickedness, urgently requiring attention. What was that line about evil flourishing when good people did nothing to stop it? It was after seven, and here she was hiding away from everybody with a nice woman who was making cottage pie, of all things.

Norma had not come back, and in a fit of eager co-operation Thea texted back, ‘Chadwick house having supper. Probably best not to phone, though not in any danger.’ Despite the adjurations of Stephanie, Jessica and others, Thea still felt impelled to use telegrammese for her texts. And this time, she wanted it done before Norma caught her and started asking questions.326

As it was, the mobile was back on the table when the woman returned. ‘Shouldn’t you be calling your husband?’ she asked brightly.

‘Not yet. He won’t have got the kids to bed yet. Another hour or so should be fine.’

‘Well, supper’s ready, just about. More wine?’

‘Why not?’ said Thea, against her better judgement.

‘And after that, I’d better call Richard. I can’t rest until I’ve had all this out with him. He’s sure to be able to explain it to us.’

‘He’s the expert, is he?’

‘You could say that. He’s been obsessed this last few months. There’s that property, you see, standing empty. He says it can’t go on like that, not now that Simon’s dead—’ She stopped herself, eyes widening. ‘Well, you won’t understand any of that. I’m just prattling as usual.’

Thea nodded. ‘The farm that Gwendoline left,’ she said. ‘Yes, I know about that.’

‘Ben again, I suppose.’ The tone was a lot less admiring this time. ‘I don’t know what the older generation would think of him splurging all the family secrets the way he does.’

‘I don’t think he realises it’s meant to be secret.’ Thea aimed for a mild lack of concern, while her pulse was accelerating. Somewhere just down the village street Ben might be facing an irate old man – or two – who were not taking at all kindly to his relentless researches. The air around Barnsley seemed to prickle with imminent drama. At least Barkley knows where I am now, she thought.

She made herself eat the delicious homemade fare in 327the rays of the lowering sun, which had finally succeeded in breaking through clouds in the closing hours of the day. Occasional cars went by, on the other side of the house, and a plane growled its way across the sky. ‘Peaceful,’ she said, wistfully.