‘Kevin McNeill. Luke’s Dad.’

‘Oh. Hello.’

‘Listen, I didn’t want to worry your wife, so I thought it best to speak to you.’

‘What is it?’

Kathryn tilted her head closer to mine.

‘Nothing to worry about, I’m sure it’s nothing.’ He coughed. ‘I know it sounds odd, but Luke’s just got in and he says he’s lost your Rob.’

‘Sorry?’

‘He says Rob’s run off. And he seems a bit – rattled. I don’t know if they’ve had an argument or something. You know what teenage boys are like! But you might want to go and have a look for him, just to be on the safe side.’

‘He’s not there, then, with Luke?’ I looked at Kathryn. The crease in her forehead deepened.

‘No. Luke says they were on their way home from the farm, and he looked back and Rob was gone. He’d just left him, or something. I can’t fathom it, myself.’

‘They were finished there hours ago, though.’

‘Like I said. I can’t fathom it.’

‘It doesn’t sound like Robert.’

There was a pause.

‘Has he got a girlfriend, your boy?’

‘What?’

‘A girlfriend – has Rob got one? I bet that’s it, he’ll have given Luke the slip for some girl.’

‘He hasn’t got a girlfriend.’

‘As far as you know.’

‘Robert hasn’t got a girlfriend.’

‘Look, I’m sure there’s a simple explanation, but like I said, you might want to go and have a quick look.’

‘Yes.’

‘Bound to be a simple explanation. Nine times out of ten, there is.’

‘Thank you for letting us know.’ I put the phone down. Kathryn dropped her tea towel and clutched my arm, her wide eyes waiting for an explanation.

‘Something about Luke losing him.’ I took her hands in mine and she gripped my fingers. ‘I’m sure it’s nothing. But I’d better go and have a look.’

‘Howard – ’

‘Nothing to worry about. I’ll be back in a bit.’

I tugged my hands from hers and opened the front door.

I ran right out into the road, without my coat. The frost on the tarmac crunched beneath my shoes.

He would be still on the farm. There would be a simple explanation. There was no need to run, I told myself. No need at all.

I walked to the junction, past the garage, past Burgrey Stores and up the High Street. I tried to keep my steps brisk, but not panicked.

The church bells were ringing. Thursday is practice day. Each clanging bell seemed to pound in time to my footsteps on the road.

Probably he was home by now. There would be a simple explanation. He’d be asleep on the toilet. And I’d carry him back to bed.

Nine times out of ten.

A simple explanation.

The icy air made my lungs feel raw.

Nine times out of ten.