“In Manchester, apparently. A gallery with some of Thelma’s work and then the library.”

“They’ll be seeing Roy’s mother there, I suppose.”

“They won’t. She’s still at her conference.”

“Just one more thing before we go. When you spoke to Miss Derrison—”

“It’s Dennison, my love, if you recall.”

“There’s nothing wrong with my memory, Jonathan, or anything else up here. What did she say to you, Patrick?”

“Not really very much. She thought Roy and Bella might have been there for drugs, which you’ll appreciate is nonsense. And she was suspicious because they were searching near her house, but it was just for an earring Bella dropped.”

“Would you say the lady was delusional?”

“I wouldn’t go that far. More like constantly on the alert.”

“I’m glad to hear you say that, Patrick.”

“Glad because…”

“When she called about the trespassing, I’m saying that’s how she saw it, she said she thought she knew them.”

“Nothing odd about that.” It didn’t even seem worth mentioning. “Roy was with me when I went there,” I reminded her, “and she saw us.”

I heard a faint drone suggestive of speed on a road, and then my father said “Astrid thinks—”

“I’ll tell him myself, thank you, Jonathan. I will when we’re face to face.”

I tried not to sound harassed while asking “How soon will that be?”

“Half an hour or so,” my father said. “Longer if you prefer.”

“I’ll try to be finished by then.”

“Don’t look at me like that, Jonathan. This needs to be settled.” Even more stubbornly my mother said “Those eyes.”

I assumed this referred to his look, no doubt reproachful, and I came close to telling him to keep his eyes on the road. I was opening my mouth when he spoke, so nearly inaudibly that I couldn’t judge his tone. “My God, she’s—”

If he meant to acknowledge my mother was right, I had no chance to hear. My parents had gone, along with the sound of their car. I supposed they didn’t want to distract me any further, but I found it hard to return to my work. I watched windmills twirl at the edge of the world, so variously that their antics resembled a mime of chaos, and heard a train listing the destinations it was required to visit. I ought to call Roy about dining with my parents. He or Bella might have plans of their own.

I was anticipating the doggedly adolescent message he’d recorded, but the phone rang just once before he spoke. “Bell?”

“No, it’s your father. Hasn’t she shown up?”

“Of course she has. We’ve been together hours.”

“But you aren’t now.”

“She’s just gone back in the library to check something. I’m out in the sun.”

“Have you finished whatever you’re there for?”

“Think so. Why?”