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‘Not my type,’ James said. ‘But thanks for thinking of me.’

‘So,’ Mo said. ‘Are we staying here or moving on? It’s ten now, so if we want to go somewhere else, we need to make a move.’

‘Where do you have in mind?’ Toby said. ‘Town? Go to a club?’

‘I can’t handle a club,’ Andy said. ‘Too much bother.’

‘Maybe another pub? The Lion?’ Mo said. ‘Or park here?’

‘Here’s good for me,’ James said. ‘But I’m easy.’

‘Let’s make up our minds,’ Mo said. ‘Stay or go?’

James was about to reply when he saw a tall, thin figure walking from the bathroom to the bar. It took him a moment to realize who it was. When he did, his stomach tightened.

It was Kevin.

Maggie’s old boyfriend.

He glanced at James, then paused. He nodded a greeting; James raised his hand.

Please, he thought, please move on. I don’t want to talk to you.

He had seen him on and off over the years, but they were not the same age and did not have the same friends.

And then, of course, there was the awkwardness. There had been rumours, for a while after Maggie’s disappearance, that Kevin had a hand in it. He was her boyfriend, after all, and in the absence of any other suspects he was as good a bet as anyone.

Kevin turned and walked towards him.

‘Hi, James,’ he said. ‘How’s it going?’ There was a hush around the table.

His voice brought it all back. High, thin, a little bit whiny: James had heard it over and over in the months following Maggie’s disappearance, and he didn’t want to hear it ever again.

‘Good,’ he said. ‘You?’

‘Not bad. Off to uni?’

James nodded. ‘After summer.’

‘I’m working at Dales’s. Laying bricks.’

‘Good for you.’

‘I’m engaged. Getting married in a few weeks.’

‘Oh,’ James said. ‘Congratulations.’

‘She’s here. Jenny. I’ll introduce you.’

Don’t, James thought. I want you to leave me alone.

‘Sure,’ he said.

Kevin walked over to the bar. There was a woman sitting alone, her back to them. He tapped her on the shoulder and said something, then she stood up.

When he saw her, James felt the world start to spin. He gripped the table and closed his eyes to steady himself.

‘Jesus,’ Mo said. ‘What the fuck?’