“I might go and see if the night watch need an extra pair of hands.”

“But—”

“Or see if Becky’s OK. Seeing as you ain’t thought to ask after her.”

“Cooper, I—”

Cooper squeezed the dent in the brim of his Stetson. He did this while he chewed over the other things left unsaid. But he’d clearly made up his mind to say none of them. He put the Stetson back on, doffing the brim as had been Bud’s way, and quietly let himself out with an “I won’t be long”.

Peter heard the front door downstairs slam shut followed by the crunch of footsteps in the snow outside and ran over to the bay window. Snow flurried over the town, making the brightly coloured lights strung across Mainstreet bob and jangle. Cooper squeezed between two cars lining the sidewalk, flicking his jacket collar up around his neck, and made his way out into the middle of the road. If he glanced back now, they’d be OK. But he didn’t. He leaned into the wind, pulling his collar in even tighter and set off up the road. Peter rapped the glass with his knuckles. But Cooper didn’t hear, or pretended not to, so Peter grabbed his parka jacket off the back of the chair and ran out on to the road after him.

Cooper neared the top of the street, too far away to hear Peter calling. But now he was out here, he didn’t seem particularly irritable any more. He ran his hand over the hood of a car, scooping a thick wedge of snow into his hands, then turned off into one of the side streets, dashing a snowball across a car window, and was gone. Nobody makes snowballs when they’re unhappy. Cooper was buoyed, whatever he was up to.

Fat snowflakes tumbled into the town’s neon signs like moths drawn to the light, making them fizz and flicker. The fairy lights bobbed in the wind. Peter dug his fists into his pockets and stood there listening to the soft tinkle of glass overhead. But these were the only sounds. The window of the Lone Star was dark. The laundrette across the street was empty. He stood over Cooper’s footprints wondering what he was up to, and another thought presented itself. He could take a look inside Cooper’s bag while he was out. Peter gazed up towards the apartment window when he felt the weight of someone watching him and turned round.