‘Ah, just some late-runner cutting it fine,’ he says.

‘You’d know all about that.’

Jake always used to leave it until the last minute when he was a commuter, jogging down the towpath, waving at the train driver to wait for him.

They smile at each other and the doors close.

57

Silas

‘He was standing over there, by the kissing gate,’ Jake says, pointing across the water meadow towards the railway track.

Silas takes in the scene, trying to imagine what was in Conor’s head as he waited for the train to come. Was he full of anger towards Silas? Maybe even guilt? Silas is flattering himself. If Conor’s drug-soaked brain was thinking of anyone other than himself, it would have been his mum. They were always close. He will have to tell her that their only son nearly took his own life. And he will be blamed.

‘Thanks,’ Silas says. ‘You know, for saving him.’

‘I don’t think he was that committed, to be honest,’ Jake says. ‘We chatted about it afterwards. I’m no expert, but I’m guessing it was a cry for help.’

And Jake answered it. Silas was planning to head back to Gablecross to talk with Strover about the missing super recognisers she’s discovered, but he’s decided to stay in the village. He waited around while Jake saw Kate off on her train and the two of them then headed out here.

‘What else did you talk about?’ Silas says as they cross the water meadow towards the railway. Jake suggested earlier that there was something Silas needed to know.

‘It’s not my business, but Conor, he… He didn’t look too well.’

‘He’s had some issues,’ Silas says. ‘Drug-related.’

It started with skunk at university, which led to psychosis, dropping out, homelessness and heroin.

‘As I say, this really isn’t my business, but I think he might be dealing in drugs too,’ Jake continues. ‘Might have got himself involved in county lines.’

The sun is warm on their backs as they reach the railway line, but Jake’s words chill Silas to the bone. The suggestion is sickeningly plausible. ‘What makes you think that?’ he asks.

‘I took a punt, asked him about the Bluebell, which you’d told me was a drugs pub.’

‘Did he know it?’ Silas asks.

‘He said he didn’t, but I think he was lying.’

‘How come?’ Silas asks, but he isn’t surprised. Lying has become second nature to Conor.

‘Because I also asked him if he’d “gone cunch”. He didn’t deny it, just told me he had no choice and that he operated out of Swindon. I’m guessing the Bluebell is part of the same set-up. It would make sense.’