‘A bunch of beach cleaners discovered his body tonight – about half an hour ago. Pendower, not far from where the car was parked.’

‘Suicide?’ Silas asks, wondering if Kate knows.

‘We’re launching a murder inquiry. Looks like he’s been shot in the head.’

46

Jake

Jake is desperate to know more about the man at the beach party who looked like Rob, but for some reason Kirby has gone quiet on Facebook. He’s still online but is not responding. Jake prompts him with another message.

Tell me more?

And then, after a long wait, Kirby posts another chunk of text online, taking up the story again.

I never personally saw this guy. Gil, I think his name was. There were hundreds of people on the beach that night – surfers, techies, wannabes who were after a job with Robert. He just told me about him afterwards, said he could have been his twin. Except that Robert doesn’t have a twin and Gil sounded nothing like Robert as a person. Apparently, he was a total loser, a drugs bum.

Later that evening, he revealed a bit more about what had happened on the beach with Gil, wanted to show me a video on his phone. For a second I thought it was Robert, but then I saw that this guy Gil had a pistol. He was waving it at the camera, gesticulating, making threats – so much anger. Not like Robert at all. He was saying that Robert didn’t have what it took to be really successful. That he was too decent – too damn nice! – and needed to channel his darker impulses. And all the time he’s waving this frickin’ gun around. It was terrifying.

Rob’s always worried about how we’re all two steps away from being homeless – just like this guy. I think he really got under Rob’s skin, reminded him of how life could be if it all went wrong. Gil was clearly jealous of Rob’s success and his last words were the most chilling. He said he was going to wait until Rob had become a global hotshot. Had a life worth taking. Then he’d come looking for him, wherever he was in the world. Hunt him down. And when he’d found him, he’d… steal his soul.

Jake stares at the screen, shaking his head in disbelief. He needs to talk to Bex, to Kate.

Thanks for sharing. This is going to help me, help Rob, us. You’re a good friend to him.

I try. But you might need something a bit lighter for his birthday party! The guy’s doing OK though, isn’t he? Playing by the rules. Got himself a wonderful partner. Doing right by the world. And no sign of Gil – not as far as I know…

He’s doing great things.

Jake forces himself to keep writing.

And I love him for it.