Strover explains how their families have been appealing for information, but so far there’s been no specific mention of their police work or the units – no suggestion that their disappearance has anything to do with their job. One reason why they haven’t come onto anyone’s radar before.

He thanks Strover for the call and heads back to his car. More dots. The disappearance of so many key super recognisers is sounding more coordinated by the minute. There’s no time to drop in on Kate now.

54

Kate

Jake doesn’t get up. He just smiles and watches as Kate approaches and sits down beside him on the grass in silence, both of them staring at the sunken boat. The sight of it is suddenly overwhelming. This was their home. She turns from Jake, wiping away a tear. The towpath is empty and no boats are moored nearby. People are keeping their distance, out of respect or maybe something else. The fear of fire is contagious.

‘I saw it from the train,’ she says eventually. ‘And then we stopped and I—’

‘It’s good of you to drop by,’ Jake says, interrupting her.

‘I’m so sorry, Jake.’

‘I’ve managed to save some of your stuff—’

‘I was on my way up to London, to see Rob,’ she says. ‘I need to call him.’

There’s no reason to introduce Rob so abruptly, but she’s suddenly racked with guilt. She hasn’t told Rob she’s not on the train. He was going to meet her at Paddington.

‘Are you OK?’ Jake asks, still looking ahead at the boat. ‘About seeing him?’

‘Why wouldn’t I be?’ she says, turning to Jake for the first time.

Jake doesn’t answer. No need. He knows her too well, her too-quick reply. She is nervous about the encounter with Rob. Meeting him face to face, on a crowded platform at Paddington station. Maybe that’s why she jumped off the train. A part of her believes – hopes – that he will seem his old self and take her in his arms. That everything that’s happened in the past two days can be forgotten as if it were a bad dream. But she can’t help worrying. What if her head tells her he’s his double? She’s not sure she can cope with that. Not yet. She will remind herself that she probably has Capgras, and that it’s likely to be temporary. But it won’t be easy.

‘Want some tea?’ Jake asks.

She manages a smile. Jake used to believe everything between them could be sorted with a mug of tea. And for many years it could be, until things deteriorated too much.

‘Back at Bex’s?’ he adds.