Page 36 of We Chase Shadows

‘She doesn’t spend a lot of time with her husband,’ says Rosie, opening Ernesto’s message. ‘She’s very attractive.’

‘Amy?’ says Steve.

‘I’d worry,’ says Felicity.

‘They’re not like that, Amy and Adam,’ says Steve. ‘They don’t have to live in each other’s pockets.’

‘Still,’ says Rosie. ‘You don’t worry she’s sneaking into Korbin’s cottage or something? He had very powerful thighs. As does she.’

‘Amy and Adam are like camels,’ says Steve. ‘They store their love up.’

Felicity and Rosie share a doubtful look.

‘Amy wouldn’t cheat on Adam,’ says Steve.

‘I don’t want to come over all Georgie Glazier, but a woman has needs, Stevie,’ says Rosie.

‘Amy doesn’t have needs.’

‘Okay.’

‘She doesn’t,’ says Steve.

Rosie looks back at her phone and goes quiet.

‘Do you know the world record for eating eggs?’ asks Tony.

‘What sort of time frame?’ Steve asks.

‘Minute,’ says Tony.

‘Shells on or shells already off?’ asks Steve.

‘Shells off,’ says Tony.

Steve has a think. ‘I could do twelve, so let’s say twenty-nine?’

‘Forty-eight,’ says Tony. ‘In case it ever comes up at the quiz.’

‘Stevie,’ says Rosie, looking at her phone. She stands, very slowly, very quietly. ‘We have to go.’

‘I just have a couple more questions about the eggs,’ says Steve.

Rosie yanks him up by the collar.

‘We have to leave. Right now.’

19

There is a light on in Korbin’s cottage. He is expecting her. Amy can hear classical music coming from behind his front door.

What if Korbin doesn’t have a secret at all? What if this is all just a clumsy attempt to seduce her? That would be a terrible disappointment.

What Amy doesn’t have is a gun. She could have borrowed one from Lee, she supposes, but she senses she won’t need one. Her radar is finely attuned to danger, and Korbin has not set that radar off.

Amy knocks. Quietly. No need for Vern, or Lee, to be alerted to the fact that she is visiting Korbin after lockdown.

Her knock is not loud enough, however. No reply from Korbin. She pushes at the door instead. It is unlocked and swings open. She finds herself in a small hallway. There are two photographs on the hallway table: one of an older woman dressed in white and one of a football team dressed in green. Between the two photographs is a gun.