‘Did you know that Jo was gay?’

‘Oh, heavens yes. I thought everyone knew. I understand it was part of the reason she chose to do her PhD over here. Escaping from a broken heart – or at least so the rumour mill goes.’

‘I don’t believe it. I’ve only been away from site for a few days and now it looks like a war zone.’ Clare was standing in front of the Portakabin, hands on hips, surveying the damage.

‘It could’ve been one heck of a lot worse. According to the docs at A & E, if that brick had hit Val just a couple of inches lower it could’ve blinded her – or worse. And take a look at this.’

Jo led Clare into the Portakabin and removed the ragged sheet of brown paper from the filing cabinet where she’d had it under lock and key, and spread it out on the table in front of them.

Clare said, ‘Well, there’s no mistaking the message, is there?’

‘Nope.’ Jo hesitated. ‘I don’t like to say this, Clare, but I think we’re in trouble here. Neil was saying someone wants us out of here and this proves he’s right. From where I’m standing things are looking pretty gnarly. I know this site is real important, but is it really worth risking these guys’ lives? Or yours, for that matter?’

Clare slumped down in her chair, head in hands. Through her fingers the bloodstains were still obvious to see on the wooden tabletop in front of her.

She drew in a long breath and hauled herself upright. ‘No, no it’s not. No site is worth that. But what choice do we have? If we pack it in now, that’s the Hart Unit finished. And none of those poor sods out there are going to thank us for laying them off. Half of them have got families to support. And how much chance do you reckon there is of them being able to pick up another job right now?’

Jo said, ‘What difference is it gonna make? The dig will be over in a couple of weeks anyhow. And they’ll all be out of work.’

‘All the more reason to keep going while we can. And I’m damned if I’m going to stand by and watch the Hart Unit fold and this site destroyed just because some lunatic wants us gone. We won’t take any chances, though. I want all the glass in the windows in these units replaced with Perspex, and under no circumstances is anyone to be left on-site on their own.’

Her memories of what had occurred at Hungerbourne, to first Jo and then David, were far too vivid to run the risk of ever allowing the experience to be repeated.