She made her tea and sat in the comfortable armchair she liked best for reading. With some Chopin nocturnes playing quietly in the background, she picked up her Kindle and started reading Fifty Shades of Grey. It had taken her two years to get around to it after an acquaintance in her Pilates class had recommended it, and it took her about fifteen minutes to press “Home.” It wasn’t just the bad writing, she didn’t get the point of it. She wasn’t a prude, though it had been a while since she’d had a boyfriend. That was because she didn’t have the time, not lack of inclination—now her life was all studying for exams, courses, and work work work. There was simply no room for a boyfriend, and she was not the kind of girl to favor one-night stands or the casual fuck-buddy arrangement. Sometimes she felt sad and lonely, but mostly she loved her job and its possibilities so much she didn’t mind too much. She scrolled through her small collection for something else to read and decided on Elena Ferrante’s latest in the Neapolitan series. She had followed the adventures of Elena and Lila right from the start.

Before she could get very far, her mobile buzzed. She had to hurry to get it out of her briefcase and just managed to press the on button before the call went through to answering.

At first there was a disconcerting silence, then a small voice said, “Is this who I spoke to before?”

“It’s me,” said Gerry.

“You gave me your number.”

“Yes. Are you Jade?”

“Who told you that? It’s not my real name.”

“What’s your real name?”

“You can call me Jade.”

“What is it, Jade? What can I do?”

“You said to ring if I . . . if I ever just . . . you know . . . wanted to.”

“That’s right. Is something wrong?”

“Nothing’s changed. Everything’s quiet. But I’m going away.”

“Where to?”

“I don’t know yet. Far away from them. I’ve got a few ideas.”

“What do you want from me, Jade?”

“I want to talk to you.” There was another pause, shorter this time. “There’s things I want to tell you before I go. Things about me and Mimsy.”

“Tell me.”

“Not on the phone. Can you meet me somewhere?”

“Can you come to me? In Eastvale?”

“No. I’ve got no money, for a start. And I might be seen. I’m safe where I am.”

“OK. Say where.”

“Up on the estate, right on the eastern edge, there’s a couple of terraces they’re going to knock down. All the houses are condemned and boarded up. Nobody goes there.”

“Right.”