Cullen finds himself at the sticky table in the corner of the saloon bar of the Rose and Crown. He and Mark Ratner meet there sometimes to discuss academic matters away from the distractions of campus.

Cullen catches the barman’s eye and signals for another round. Another double will settle his nerves.

‘Oh come on. How did you think this was going to end? You were having sex with her on campus. I walked in on you, remember?’

‘I’m not likely to forget it.’

‘Natasha has to go.’

‘I said I’d sort it.’ Ratner’s hands are trembling as he says this, Cullen notices.

‘But you didn’t.’ Cullen blinks back his irritation.

‘How did you find out about the grades?’

‘It wasn’t difficult, Mark. We both know that the girl was on the verge of being kicked out, before you decided to start sleeping with her. I brought up Natasha’s file and checked her record. She’s a poor student, with no aptitude, no drive, no head for academics, barely scraping a pass, suddenly starts getting firsts in her coursework. You weren’t exactly subtle about it. I’d have let it go if it hadn’t been for your last paramour deciding to jump from the bridge.’

‘Why do you say that?’ Ratner’s eyes are suddenly etched with panic, his face an untamed mess of blotches and muscle tics. He, Cullen, can feel his fear spilling out into the air between them. There is something to be enjoyed in watching him. What a fool the man is to imagine that he could keep his affair with Jessica Easton a secret.

‘Jessica Easton was a nutjob. Unstable. That was why I got rid of her and that was why she killed herself. It had nothing to do with me. Natasha Tillotson is completely different, much more…’

‘…malleable?’

‘Pragmatic, reasonable.’

‘Which is why you need to get her to accept my offer. The point is to rectify the situation in a way that best protects all of us. Natasha Tillotson can transfer, complete her degree in some less-exacting institution where she’ll be allowed to scrape through and in a couple of years, she’ll have forgotten all about this little episode. And you and I will have the luxury of being able to forget all about her.’ He takes a breath to calm himself and continuing in a measured tone says, ‘How do I make myself clearer? Your career is on the line, Mark. Your marriage too, I shouldn’t wonder. Your wife can leave you, I couldn’t give two hoots, but you impact me or the reputation of my department, I’ll take you down myself.’

Ratner, chewing on his nails now, says, ‘I’ll work on Natasha. Just give me a bit more time.’

Cullen downs his second whisky chaser and calls for another. ‘We don’t have time.’