Jack had finished the article for Dolby and was drinking another beer when Laura burst into the house. She was limping, panting hard, her cheeks streaked with tears. When he looked round, she went to her knees, her face in her hands.
Jack ran to the door and looked along the road, tried to see what had frightened her. There was nothing there. ‘What’s wrong?’ he said, kneeling down, his arms going round her. Her back was sodden with sweat and she was sucking in huge lungfuls of air.
‘Someone in a van just tried to run me over,’ she said.
‘Shit! Are you okay?’ He pulled away and looked for injuries.
She shook her head, and then gave a small sob. ‘No, I’m not. I’ve hurt my leg.’
He saw a rip in her running gear and a graze on her leg.
‘You shouldn’t run on these country roads at night,’ he said. ‘They’re dangerous.’
‘Don’t make it my fault!’ she shouted, a hand wiping tears from her cheeks. ‘He was doing it on purpose.’
‘What do you mean, on purpose? Are you sure? I mean, how do you know?’
‘I just know, because I saw how it happened.’
‘But why you?’
Laura got to her feet, grimacing in pain. ‘I don’t know. I’m a police officer. I’ve made enemies.’
‘But why now?’
She was leaning forward, her hands on her knees, still out of breath. ‘That’s what worries me.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Come on, Jack, think about it. Someone gets in touch with you who might be a killer, and then this,’ and she gestured to the blood on her knee.
‘He threatened this,’ Jack said quietly. ‘If you tell the police, I’ll know. That’s what he said.’
Laura straightened and looked over at Jack’s computer. He saw the look in her eyes and knew what it meant: that this was Jack’s fault.
She pointed upstairs. ‘We need to get Bobby away from here. This person must know where we live, and so Bobby cannot be in the house if he comes back.’
Jack nodded. He understood. He went to put his arms round her again, but she brushed him away.
‘I’ve got to go in,’ Laura said, but as she moved, her knee gave way, making her take all her weight on one leg. She looked at Jack, angry now. ‘Bobby needs to go somewhere tonight.’
Jack agreed and watched as Laura hobbled upstairs.
He didn’t do anything at first, except look towards the window and wonder what danger his article had brought to them as he listened to the sound of drawers opening, of her showering quickly, and then the sound of chatter as she spoke to Bobby, cajoling him, making out like it was an adventure, not wanting to frighten him.
Jack went to the window again and looked out. There was nothing but darkness. Was someone else looking in?
He turned around at the shuffle of feet. Laura was in a suit, Bobby in pyjamas and a dressing gown. Laura was holding a small suitcase.
‘He’s staying at Martha’s tonight,’ Laura said, and Jack nodded his approval. She was an old family friend. Laura ruffled Bobby’s hair, making him smile. ‘And your daddy is going to collect you from school. Isn’t that exciting?’
Bobby’s smile faltered, and Jack could tell that Bobby sensed that something was wrong. His father didn’t often travel all the way north to collect him. The handover normally took place at a motorway service station on the M6.
Jack went to Bobby and wrapped him up in his arms. ‘Have fun with Martha,’ he said. ‘Remember she’s an old lady. Don’t be a rascal.’
Bobby giggled at that, and as Jack straightened himself Laura grabbed Bobby’s hand.
‘I’ll be back later,’ she said, and then she was gone. The peace of the night was broken by her car engine, the dark fields briefly illuminated, and he watched as her car disappeared out of sight. Then it was quiet again.
He stepped back inside and closed the door, checking the locks. It was going to be a long night.