‘Please, please, Rave, please don’t do it. I know something bad has happened. I know it has, but you doing this is not right. I love you, man. Right? We all do and whatever happens we always will.’

‘You don’t know what I’ve done.’ Rave’s voice cracked.

‘I don’t fuckin’ care,’ Dave said. ‘I swear I don’t. We’re in this together, brothers in arms. Don’t let me down.’

‘I can’t, Dave,’ Rave said. ‘I just can’t. I’m sorry.’

For one gut-wrenching moment Dave thought he was going to let go.

‘No, no, no, please, man! Please don’t turn me into the prick who let Rave die. I can’t live with that.’ He actually got on his knees and begged, ‘Please, please, Rave, don’t leave me, Jesus, please don’t leave me.’

It must have struck a chord because Rave clung on tighter. ‘OK. I’m sorry, Dave.’

‘Me too.’ Dave was bawling like a baby now. ‘Sorry for everything. I love you, man. I love you, man. I really fuckin’ love you.’

Dave took off his grandfather’s coat and covered Rave with it, then wrapped his arms around him and held on as tight as he could. ‘I’ve got you, Rave.’

He held on to his best friend and together, in silence, they waited. He didn’t know how long had passed when he heard the car and turned to see Jonno getting out and running, a man and a woman following as quickly as they could.

‘He’s tired,’ Dave said to them. ‘He’s really tired.’

‘She’s coming, Rave. She’s on her way,’ Jonno said.

The man who had allowed Jonno to use his phone stood back with his wife in his arms, both dumbstruck. There was nothing they could say.

Dave didn’t move a muscle while Jonno told Rave to hang on and promised that Maisie would be coming any minute now. ‘How long does it take to drive from Cypress Road to the reservoir, Dave?’ Jonno asked.

‘About ten minutes,’ Dave said.

‘With a copper driving?’

‘About five.’

‘We’re three minutes in already, then. Two minutes, man. OK?’ Jonno said, and Rave nodded. ‘Just two more minutes.’

Just two more minutes, Dave thought. Hold on, don’t let go, keep him safe. He was freezing, his hands and arms ached, but even if Maisie Bean took a month to get there, Dave O’Loughlin was not letting go.

Maisie