When Richard returned to his car, his windscreen had collected a layer of the mist. He was in the driver’s seat trying to work the heaters before he noticed the piece of paper tucked under the wiper on the outside. It was small, lined and with a jagged edge like it had been torn from a notepad. He climbed back out, looking around as he did. His car was parked tight against the perimeter wall of Lympne Castle. The mist was the only movement, a creak in his car door the only sound. He lifted the handwritten note, and read:

I still can’t walk away from this. I’ve made you an appointment at my temporary office. Today – midday. All the answers will be there but they are for you and you only. Please, if I see you with someone else then we will not meet. Not today, not ever. I don’t wish to sound dramatic but I have gone out on a limb here.

If you do not come then I will understand. I will know that I have done all that I can and I will be satisfied.

I require nothing in return. All I want is my own peace of mind. This is the only way.

CT15 4AN. Block B. Room 2.12.

Richard leaned on the roof of his car to keep himself steady. Again, he peered out into the mist. It was starting to thin, the sun now visible behind it as a white blur. Still there was no movement, no one around, certainly not a smartly dressed man that he could challenge, demand to know what the hell he wanted from him. He was tired. He wanted to be left alone, that was all. But he did want answers. He had always wanted answers. And what if this was his only chance?

He screwed the note up and discarded it on the passenger seat.

Chapter 24

‘He’s in his shed.’

Justine Maddox stood in the doorway and fixed Richard with an expectant look – the expectation being that Richard would go away and find his son. There was certainly no suggestion he was welcome inside the house, but Richard had got used to that now.