‘Come on, come on!’ He spoke at the phone but lashed out at the television that was still showing the same footage on a loop in Glenn’s living room. It was back to the point where it showed him lingering on the threshold, where he had first seen Danny Evans. He felt like screaming at the image, at himself: Turn around! Don’t! But all he could do was turn it off. Now the television showed the live version of himself as a reflection. His eyes were wide and panicked, his mouth hanging open ready to shoot with words the moment the damned phone was answered. And, just over his shoulder, he could see his best mate slumped over in his favourite chair while his blood dripped a rhythm into the carpet.

‘Dad?’ Colin said as he answered the phone, instantly sounding a combination of hassled and bored.

‘Colin! Thomas, where is he? Where’s Thomas, Colin? I need you to check!’

‘Jesus, Dad, what’s the matter with you?’

‘Where is he? You need to call his school! Call his school, do it now and make sure he’s OK. I can wait.’

‘Call the … Dad, he’s here, OK! He’s right here, helping me with the classic. His dorm’s sorted but his term doesn’t start again until the middle of the week so I thought, you know, after what you said, I thought maybe—’

‘He’s there! He’s there with you now and he’s safe?’

‘What the hell is going on, Dad? You sound stressed out?’

‘No … I’m OK … Sorry, Colin, bad dream …’ Richard broke off to catch a sob before it could escape down the phone. ‘Look after the boy, OK?’ It was all he could manage before cutting the call. His whole body slumped, like the tension had been the only thing holding him upright. He had to catch himself on his elbows for fear of collapsing to the carpet. It took all his strength just to get back to sitting up. He picked up the black folder again, opening it back to the page where his grandson’s name appeared. He held it on his lap, screwing the page to turn it with one hand. The next read:

LEAVE NOW. TOUCH NOTHING.

YOU COMMITTED MURDER. THE FOOTAGE YOU CAN SEE WILL PUT YOU IN PRISON FOR THE REST OF YOUR NATURAL LIFE. THAT LEAVES ME OUT HERE WITH ONLY THOMAS TO ANSWER FOR YOUR LOOSE TONGUE.

THIS IS HOW YOU STAY FREE. THIS IS HOW YOU KEEP THOMAS SAFE.

LEAVE AND NEVER SPEAK OF THIS TO ANYONE AGAIN.