Thomas feels a sense of relief that they are not staying. He recalls Jack mentioning that he has recently bought an amazing new place. Is this it? He gets out of the Uber and walks towards the door and hears classical music, like a string quartet, coming from inside.

His phone pings.

He takes it out. A message from Jack.

Behind you.

Thomas frowns and hears breathing. He turns and jumps.

The Uber driver is behind him. He is tall and broad.

Thomas steps back. ‘What do you want?’

The man doesn’t respond.

Thomas turns to walk away but the man is suddenly on top of him and drags him to the ground. He is strong. Much stronger than Thomas. The man is choking him with the crook of his arm. He tries to scream for help but can’t even breathe.

Oh God. no . . . please, please no!

Thomas feels himself weakening. He struggles but black spots appear before his eyes. His vision begins to blur and suddenly he is no longer conscious.

Chapter 39

39

THE FOLLOWING MORNING ARCHER HURRIES back from the local shop with a tote bag full of supplies for Grandad. She is relieved that his spirits have lifted and he seems his usual cheery self, despite the fact that his memory is a little hazy.

‘What nightmare?’ he asks.

She unpacks milk, cheese, ham, bread and a copy of the Guardian from the bag. ‘Don’t you remember?’

He arches his eyebrows. ‘Are you making this up?’

Archer smiles at him and doesn’t want to cause him any more concern. ‘Perhaps I’m mistaken.’

‘I’d remember if I had a nightmare, you know.’

‘I know you would.’

Archer’s phone rings. It’s DCI Pierce.

‘Hello.’

‘DI Archer, it’s Clare Pierce.’

‘Ma’am, good morning.’

‘I sent a WhatsApp to the team. Did you read it?’

Archer glances at her phone and sees notifications on the WhatsApp icon. ‘Sorry, ma’am, I missed it.’ For some reason she has muted herself from the group and cannot recall doing that.

A second call comes through from a number she doesn’t recognise. She ignores it.

‘I wondered why I hadn’t heard. Anyway, I’d like to get everyone together for a meeting this morning at 9 a.m. There is new important evidence from the Greenwich Peninsula. I’m waiting to talk with Peter Davis about it and may be late.’

‘We’ll make a start without you.’

‘Thank you.’

Pierce hangs up and Archer considers just what this new evidence could be and why she needs to talk to Peter Davis about it. She wonders, but has her suspicions. She listens to the voicemail.

‘Hi, Grace, Mike here. Incredible stuff about the Marshland Martyrs. I was wondering if we could chat about it and Bernard Morrice too. Call me back. Bye.’