‘Missy? Your dog …? You’ve lost me here, mate.’

‘The name, Missy’s name! It was one of those moments you have when you’re a couple. Perfection. An in-joke that lasts the rest of your life. You didn’t know that, did you? My closest friend. Friends of us both.’

‘Know what, Richard?’ Glenn’s frustration was obvious now.

‘Missy! How she got her name. That was it.’

‘Oh, well no. Angela told me that she chose the name but I don’t think you ever told me the full story.’

‘But he knew it! Some random man on a bench almost a year after she … a year later. He knew that and no one else should. Then he said he knew who had been driving that car. What if he was telling the truth?’

‘But the police …? How could he? It was investigated, they arrested people and did what they do. How could this man—’

‘He said he had seen evidence that they couldn’t use. Someone roughed someone else up for information so the police can’t use it. I didn’t listen, not to the full thing. My temper, since all this – I don’t listen, I just bite.’

‘It’s OK, mate. That comes to us all. You just saw me lose my shit with a jacket!’

‘I’ve just been feeling more and more … useless. I’m not washed up just yet, I know I’m not … but we’re not what we were in our prime.’

‘You speak for yourself, old man!’ Glenn’s guffaw was back. ‘If this ain’t my prime then I’m still on my way up!’

Richard smiled. His old friend always had a way of making him feel better. There was a longer silence. Glenn made the most of it, using the time to lift their drinks from the tray.

‘Look, Rich, everything changed for you in an instant and I think you’re still trying to catch up with it all. But you’re getting there, I know you are. You talk about Angela a lot. Maybe you told someone about the Missy thing? That’s possible, right? And some arsehole picked up on it and is throwing it back at you to mess with your mind.’

‘You think people would do that?’

‘Hundred per cent. You said yourself about those phone calls you had. People like to say things for a reaction – shitty things. You only have to go onto that Facebook thing and see what people say. I’m part of some veteran groups and sure as eggs are eggs, you’ll get at least one a month come on there spouting some shit for a reaction. People can’t help themselves. It’s a cry for attention from someone who can’t live without it. There are some sad little shits out there.’

‘Are you talking about me or the Facebook thing now?’

‘Both maybe!’ Glenn chuckled.

‘This wasn’t some little oik. He was older, well dressed, well spoken. And when I got angry he apologised and left. If he was after a reaction why would he leave when I was just getting wound up?’