Jake leans forward and sticks a plaster over the tiny lens above the screen. He tried to ring Bex as soon as the green light appeared on her computer, but she didn’t pick up and he decided against leaving a message. It’s not his business how she manages her computer settings. And he can’t be sure that the light came on when he started to browse Rob’s new company’s website.

He’s about to open Google again, see what else he can discover about Rob’s investments, when his phone rings.

‘You tried calling me?’

Bex.

‘Pocket call, sorry,’ Jake says.

‘Liar.’

She knows him too well.

‘Your camera came on,’ he says. ‘On your computer.’

‘The interactive porn cam, you mean?’ Bex says.

Jake swallows hard. He’d momentarily thought about watching a bit of soft porn – it’s been a while since he’s had any data – but the cat was eyeing him with such disdain that he’d quickly ditched the idea.

‘You serious?’ he asks.

‘I must have left it on after facetiming my mum,’ she says, letting him down gently.

He closes his eyes. ‘Have you talked to Kate about Capgras yet?’ he asks.

‘Not yet.’ Bex sounds low. ‘I think it might freak her out even more right now. Being told she’s delusional. I need to choose my moment.’

‘How is she?’

Bex pauses before she answers. ‘OK… considering that someone just tried to run her over in the street.’

‘What?’

‘She’s fine,’ Bex adds quickly. ‘A bit pissed but fine.’

She explains about Kate’s close shave with the car and then drops a bigger bombshell, telling him that the driver tried to spike her coffee yesterday and that she nearly drowned in the harbour.

‘Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?’ Jake asks, struggling to take it all in. And why didn’t Kate mention it last night when he called her? Typically, she’d been more concerned about him and the boat fire than her own brush with death.

‘Because you’re out of her life, Jake.’

Harsh. ‘So why are you telling me now?’ he asks quietly. He knows she’s right. He’s history.

‘It gets worse. The same man who spiked her drink yesterday…’ Bex is finding this difficult. She’s usually as hard as nails. ‘He also spiked her drink the night of her car crash. Kate recognised him from that footage you were sent.’

‘Really? How do you know all this?’

But before Bex has a chance to reply, Jake’s phone flags up another caller.

‘I’ve got to go,’ he says. ‘DI Hart’s calling me.’