‘Chivers knows plenty but you don’t need to be a policeman to know about Pike. I said as much to Brian. I know Pike can seem reasonable sometimes and he’s got that, I dunno, that badness about him which people want to get close to. But he’s no good. When he fights he goes for the eyes. He’s wrong.’

‘And he lives directly opposite the church?’ I asked, incredulous.

‘Aye with his mam. Been here and there and did some time with the army though I wouldn’t trust him with a wooden spoon, let alone a gun. He’s dangerous. I dunno why Fairfax put up with him.’

‘He knew Fairfax?’

‘All his life. Was friends with Christopher, Fairfax’s son. Felicity told me, years ago. Pike always seemed a bit more respectful with Fairfax, but you shouldn’t poke a sleeping dog no matter how friendly they seem.’

I stayed silent. Screwed up my eyes as if trying to swallow toast with a sore throat.

‘They’re at it again,’ said John, sadly, cocking his head. We could hear banging and shouting coming from upstairs.

‘Brian and Felicity?’ I asked.

‘Aye. He’s not a bad boy. Just needs his brain tweaking a bit. It’s not easy, having a soul that don’t fit yer surroundings.’ He smiled a little. ‘You’d know better than I.’

‘Is that what he is? A city kid in the country?’

John shrugged. ‘Sometimes I think so. Others I don’t. He loves nature but I think he loves the wrong bits. He don’t worry overmuch about sunsets or full moons. He likes getting two rats in a bucket and watching them fight. He can stand for an hour watching a spider eat a moth it’s caught in its web. He can seem such a big mouth one minute and the next he’s crying on his own in his room. His older brother weren’t like him. Felicity worries.’

‘You must too,’ I said.

He seemed puzzled at that, as if I was the first person to realize that his son was more than just his wife’s business. There was the sound of footsteps and then the slam of a door. A moment later it opened and closed again. John turned and crossed to the window, pulling open the curtains.