Page 101 of We Chase Shadows

He’ll still do the Swedish accent, but, and he has to be honest with himself, he’s never really picked it up, has he? Just don’t say anything, that’s the key.

He doesn’t know the New Forest at all, but he is excited to see it. His train has just pulled out of Waterloo. It’s ninety minutes to a station called Brockenhurst. He’ll make sure the security cameras pick him up there. Maybe ask a question at the ticket office. In broken English, of course.

Although a lot of the ticket offices have closed down these days, haven’t they? He’ll think of something. He always does.

After the station he’ll get a taxi to a hotel called The Hunter’s Rest. It looks very nice online.

He takes out his copy of Gardeners’ World and settles in for the journey.

52

‘What’s that noise?’ asks Amy, phone cradled between her ear and the pillow.

She’s speaking quietly, because she is on a camp bed in the hallway outside Vern Blackwood’s room. If anybody tries to get in, they’ll have to get through her. So far only Rosie has tried.

‘A hydroelectric generator,’ says Adam.

This case is not going to be solved in time for their anniversary tomorrow. So no surprise trip to Saudi for her. Just another long-distance phone call.

‘Are you selling one or buying one?’

‘Buying one, then immediately selling it,’ says Adam.

In some ways Amy realizes that she is relieved. Perhaps it would have been a ridiculous gesture to fly halfway around the world to see Adam? She’d even bought herself a dress. When was the last time she’d worn a dress? What if Adam saw she had made an effort and that effort hadn’t worked?

‘Will you sell it for a profit?’ says Amy.

‘That’s a good idea,’ says Adam. ‘I’ll suggest that to the gang.’

Amy sticks her tongue out down the phone.

What if she’d turned up and he’d looked disappointed? Or he was too busy? They don’t really make romantic gestures as a couple. That’s not their currency.

‘Baldy still on the run, then?’ Adam asks.

‘Connor Brooks he’s called,’ says Amy. ‘We’re trying to lure him in.’

‘That sounds safe,’ says Adam. ‘Are you armed?’

‘Good idea,’ says Amy. ‘I’ll suggest that to the gang.’

Adam blows a raspberry.

He definitely doesn’t know it’s their anniversary tomorrow. The whole thing would have been super-awkward. Best forgotten.

‘Have you spoken to your dad lately?’ Amy asks.

‘Dad? No,’ says Adam.

‘I think he’s having a hard time,’ says Amy. ‘He’s been thinking about your mum.’

‘He’ll be all right,’ says Adam.

One day Adam and his dad will talk about Debbie. But not today. Getting men to talk is like introducing two new cats to each other.

Their ‘copper’ anniversary had been hard to buy for, as she’d predicted. In the end Amy has bought Adam six copper bullet casings from the First World War. She’s picking them up in Basingstoke tomorrow morning. A British soldier carved tiny animals on to each one in the trenches. Adam will like them for the animals. She likes them for the bullet casings.

‘You know what tomorrow is?’ asks Amy. Might as well see.