Their hands start to explore each other, reaching down and slipping between, searching and caressing. She could get used to wearing a blindfold. It makes her feel powerless and empowered, vulnerable and in control. Rob seems to like it too. His young body is taut and smooth, like a swimmer’s, hard and firm in her blind hands. He’s been dropping hints recently about being more adventurous in the bedroom, but she hasn’t had the energy until now. And then she tastes salt and realises that he’s crying. He’s never cried in front of her before.

‘What’s the matter?’ she says, pulling away.

‘It’s nothing,’ he says. ‘I just don’t want this to end.’

‘It doesn’t have to,’ she whispers, rolling over on top of him. The darkness is thrilling; it’s like it’s their first time as she feels her way around his body. She’d forgotten the intensity of physical attraction. Sex with Jake had become numbed by habit. No sparks any more. She leans down to nibble Rob’s ear and lets him in with a gasp. ‘As long as you can keep going.’

And he does, gently at first and then more urgently, bringing her to a climax so intense that she finds herself shouting, purging her mind of tonight’s earlier dramas, all thoughts of doppelgängers. Maybe of Jake too. At least the shutters have some use, insulating their cries from the neighbours. Even creating ripples around the narrowboat used to make her self-conscious.

Afterwards, they lie on their backs in the dim candlelight, Rob to Kate’s right. She’s taken off the blindfold and her eyes are closed. She knows she hasn’t got long before he falls asleep. She needs to ask him about what happened on the beach in Thailand nine years ago and she hopes that he will answer her questions in the afterglow of their lovemaking.

‘Rob?’ she asks.

‘Mmm?’

She’s already losing him, but she needs to make a confession.

75

Jake

‘I think we should turn around and head home,’ Bex says as they drive along the almost empty motorway towards London.

Jake glances across at her. The light from the car’s large landscape touchscreen between them casts an eerie glow on her face.

He knows she’s right. They’ve discussed what Hart said about Rob, how Kate’s safe if she’s with him. Hart didn’t tell them why he’s so sure, but an iMessage has also come through to Bex’s phone from Rob. It’s in reply to the voicemail message Bex left earlier, explaining as casually as she could that she had been trying to contact Bex.

Jake looks at her phone again and rereads the text, stroking Stretch, who has stirred on his lap.