The faintest sniff of derision. She’s rarely heard Rob like this. He’s usually so sure of himself, of them. It’s what attracted her to him in the first place: his quiet self-confidence, the lack of jealousy, his never passing judgement on the modest life that she led with Jake on the boat.

‘And I didn’t know when you were coming back,’ she continues. ‘You sounded so busy. And then the phone died and the blinds came down and this bloody drone…’ She can’t hold it together any longer.

‘Come here,’ he says, his voice kinder now, softer. A moment later, his arms are around her and she’s sobbing on his shoulder.

‘I’m sorry,’ she says. ‘For calling Jake.’

This is so strange. They’ve never had a scene about their exes before. And now here they are, in the middle of a power cut, having their first row.

‘I’m the one who’s sorry,’ he says. ‘For what happened here tonight.’

She can cope like this, when she’s in his arms and cannot see his face. The world is back on its axis, free from all thoughts of doubles. It’s how it used to be when they first met and moved down to Cornwall, thrilled by each other’s bodies.

She finds his mouth and kisses him. Darkness is her friend.

73

Jake

‘Apologies for calling so late,’ Jake says, sitting in the heated leather passenger seat of Rob’s Tesla. Bex is driving and Stretch is asleep on his lap.

‘No doubt it’s still daylight in Lapland,’ DI Hart replies.

‘Ouch,’ Bex whispers, looking ahead.

Hart never misses the chance to remind Jake that his books are only published in Finland.

‘Kate just called us,’ Jake continues, ignoring the barb. They’re heading into London. Neither of them knows exactly where Rob lives, only that it’s somewhere in Shoreditch. ‘She sounded distressed.’

‘Us?’ Hart says.

‘I’m with Bex,’ Jake says. ‘Her friend.’

He’s not used to talking into the air like this. Kate’s Morris Minor didn’t exactly stretch to a built-in car audio system.

‘Hello, Bex,’ Hart says drily.

‘You alright?’ she asks.

Jake has noticed it before. Bex’s Lancashire accent becomes more pronounced when she’s nervous. Alright becomes alreet.

‘We met down in Cornwall,’ she adds for Jake’s benefit.

‘Where was Kate calling from?’ Hart asks.

‘We think from Rob’s flat in London,’ Jake says.

‘Shoreditch,’ Bex adds.

‘If she’s with him, she’s fine,’ Hart says, almost matter-of-factly.

Jake glances at Bex, who looks equally confused by Hart’s relaxed response. ‘How can you be so sure?’ he asks.

‘Trust me,’ Hart says.