‘Glenn?’ he called out. The house was old council stock but from an era when they made them large enough for an actual family. Glenn’s three children had long since moved out but even when his wife had passed he had dismissed any notion that he might move on.

There was no answer. Richard was at the door now. He placed the flat of his hand on it and leaned forward enough to see into the few inches of gap. The sun might have been brighter today, but its focus was on the front of the row, leaving little to penetrate the shadow behind the door round the side. He pushed it wider. The light changed for the better, enough for him to see the stairs in front of him. Glenn’s shoes were stowed neatly in a rack down to his right. His jacket was hanging above them on a peg and his gloves were between them, lying over the radiator with the fingers lined up like Glenn had used a ruler. Always the soldier.

‘Glenn?’ Richard called out again, this time projecting his voice directly into the house. If he was in there, he would hear him. There was nothing in reply. Richard knew the layout well. Beyond the stairs and down the hall there was a living room with a view out to the front on the right side and access to a kitchen on the left. Whenever he visited they would usually spend their time in the living room, where Glenn had the comfiest armchairs Richard had ever experienced. It had become a standing joke that they would end up sat next to each other in some old people’s home having insisted that the chairs came with them.

‘What’s the matter, cat got your tongue? I know what you’re doing!’ Richard called, and he did too. Glenn had done it before. He would leave the front door unlocked and then sit silently when he knew Richard was due. Then, when Richard appeared in the living room Glenn would call out: Nearest the kettle, are you? Go on then, we’ll have a brew! And a big laugh would shake the big belly that always bunched up when he sat.

Richard stepped in. He closed the front door behind him with a flick of his elbow. There was still no noise. He paced down the hall.