‘Sure. I’m just going to lie here and read the paper.’

He kissed her clammy forehead then opened the door. Chris was standing there, holding a bright green envelope.

‘Oh. I was expecting Brian.’

‘Sorry to disappoint you.’

‘No, I didn’t mean it like that.’

Chris pulled a face to demonstrate that he didn’t really care if Jamie had meant it like that or not. He held out the envelope. ‘This is from Lucy and me. It’s just a card to say thanks.’

‘Oh.’ He felt embarrassed. ‘You needn’t have, really. It was our pleasure.’

‘Yes, well, we believe in being polite. By the way, do you still want me to take a look at that door for you? It’s still sticking.’

‘Yes, sure. If you don’t mind.’

‘Leave it with me.’

Chris went back down the hall and began to examine the door. Jamie felt puzzled. Chris didn’t seem very happy. In fact, he seemed downright miserable. Jamie’s first paranoid thought was that he had done something wrong – that he had said something to offend Chris at the dinner party. Or maybe Chris had the same virus as Kirsty. If so, he must be pretty unlucky, and unhealthy. He had been ill when they had first moved in, or so Lucy had said. It didn’t fit. Chris looked like an ox, ruddy with health. In the end, Jamie decided he must simply be in a bad mood, and put it from his mind.

Brian came in through the door, saying hello to Chris as he passed him, his face lighting up when he saw Jamie. ‘There was no need to wait in the hallway for me.’

‘I wasn’t. I, oh, never mind.’ He realised he was still holding the card. He slid it under his door and then followed Brian up the stairs.

As they reached the top of the first flight, there was a thump at the window, and a shape appeared behind the frosted glass. Jamie jumped, his heartbeat skipping. It was Lennon, Mary’s cat. He poked his head through the gap where the window was open, mewing as he did so, then jumped down onto the stairs and ran up to Mary’s front door.

‘How the hell did he get up there?’ Jamie asked.

‘There’s a fire escape just to the right of the window there. He climbs up it from the garden then jumps across to the windowsill. It’s a death-defying leap, actually. I’ve watched him do it. It’s terrifying. Every time I see it I’m convinced he’s going to miss the windowsill and plummet to his death.’

As they walked up the stairs past the cat, Jamie looked down at him. Lennon rubbed against his ankle. Jamie had a thought, but didn’t say anything.