“Upsetting mum. She still cares about you even though you’ve split up, and it’s hard on me as well. She says you’re being like this because of Bell, but I don’t know why you would be.”

I struggled to say only “That’s how your mother thinks sometimes.”

“I’m glad Bell doesn’t, then. Are you going to accept her?”

For a moment my mouth felt unlikely to work, and then I said “I’ll do whatever you need.”

“Then I expect we’ll see you soon. I’ll talk to Bell.” Doubt lingered in his voice as he added “And don’t upset yourself either, dad.”

I’d found no more to say by the time he rang off. The call had left me feeling ineffectual as well as devious. I would do anything necessary to protect my son, but how should I proceed when I didn’t even really know what I was shielding him from? Surely I had to confront Bella by herself, perhaps by loitering near the derelict hotel. If only I had her phone number – and then the thought that had been taking form when Roy rang made itself plain at last, and my mouth fell open as though it was yearning to speak.

Was my memory correct? There was only one way to learn, and I brought up the contact list on my phone. I’d never deleted any entries, and it took just a few seconds to revive the one I had in mind. As I touched the call icon I felt as ridiculous as I was sure several people thought I was. No doubt the number would prove to be unobtainable – dead – but it rang and was answered almost at once. “Patrick, you’ve found me.”

“Bella.” I found it unexpectedly difficult to articulate “Or should I call you Bel?”

“Roy does.”

“Not the way I’ve seen it spelled and you have.”

She released a low sound that might have implied mirth. “How much do you think you know, Patrick?”

“I’d rather tell you face to face.”

“I’m nearly at Roy’s. We wouldn’t want him to think you’ve been going for me again, would we? Shall we make a date instead?”

I found the discussion unnervingly banal in the circumstances, and almost intolerably grotesque. “I’ll find you at the Little Imperial, shall I?”

“Yes, you left your mark there. I wondered if you were intending to own up.” Before I could retort she said “I’ll find you, Patrick. That’s a promise on my soul, and soon.”