‘Yes. I think so.’ Rob was defiant. ‘It’s from Justin Holmes.’

She tensed. ‘Why’s he offering you cash?’ she asked, although the answer was already forming in her head.

‘We had a bit of an argument, me and him.’ Rob pointed to his eye. ‘I kinda lost it, seeing him in the pub on Saturday night, drinking without a care in the world. And me, with Abby and Helen . . . I told him what I thought of him.’ He paused. ‘I told him we was – me and a few others – planning on suing his boss.’

She blinked. ‘You did what?’

He saw the look on her face. ‘You would’ve done, too, if you’d seen him sitting as smug as you like.’

‘No, I wouldn’t.’ Jesus, thought Kate, what had he said?

‘Anyway, next morning, he comes knocking with an offer. Enough to pay for all our expenses.’ He took a deep breath. ‘But it would mean I’d have to drop the case.’

Kate’s mouth dropped. Then, somewhere in the distance, a noise. The track started humming. The far-off sound of a train approaching, at speed. Oh my God, had Rob told Justin that she was the one behind this campaign? Is that why her house had been broken into, her private documents searched? Is that why she’d been sent an email threatening her life?

‘Rob?’

‘Yes?’

The train was getting louder.

‘Did you tell Justin how all this started? Did you tell him about Becky? About me, and how I offered to pull this case together?’

He looked at her impassively. Behind him, over his shoulder, she saw the train come hurtling around the corner, straight at the station. Rob opened his mouth, spoke, but she was buffeted by the thundering noise and the sucking wind of the train and heard nothing.

Then it passed. She saw he was irritated.

‘What do you take me for? I didn’t mention you. Or the others – not any names,’ he said tersely. ‘Just said there was a few of us in the village.’

Kate nodded. ‘If you need to pull out, Rob, I totally understand.’

‘But it’s not just me. It’s all of us or I get nothing.’

‘What? This is bribery.’

Rob spoke brusquely. ‘The way Justin was talking, there’s money for the others, too, but we all have to drop it. Every single one of us. Now. Or I don’t get anything.’

‘The bastard. Have you told any of the others? About your offer?’

He shifted on the bench. ‘A couple. Not all. Actually, I thought . . .’

‘What?’ Then it clicked. ‘You want me to do it?’

‘I just thought – they listen to you.’

Kate exhaled. ‘I can’t do that, Rob, you know I can’t.’

‘I told you: he’ll give them money too.’

‘Maybe it’s not about the money, Rob.’ And then she felt awful. She’d spoken without thinking. ‘Sorry. I know this is important. For Abby.’

‘Way I see it, it’s been over a month since you said you was gonna do this. I’ve gone along with your plan long enough.’