I can still see the thread of light, but Shadow has streaked away, looking for better adventures. When I drop down onto the sands at Porth Killier I catch sight of a figure by the shoreline, his powerful torch beam skimming the shingle. This is the source of light I’ve been chasing, but the man ignores my presence, keeping his head down while he inspects every grain of sand. Shadow flies across the beach like a speeding bullet, barking at high volume. The man spins round in panic as my dog snaps at him, refusing to back down.
‘Come away, Shadow,’ I yell out.
The dog’s behaviour calms by a fraction as I approach, but he’s still keeping guard, not letting his prisoner move a muscle. It’s only when I’m within touching distance that I recognise who I’ve been following. It’s Martin Tolman. The man’s face is obscured by a cap and thick scarf, protecting him from the breeze. He looks relieved when I catch hold of Shadow’s collar and drag him away.
‘Your dog’s got a fighting spirit,’ the architect comments. His voice is mild, but his expression’s fearful.
‘What are you doing here, Martin?’
He shifts away from me. ‘I couldn’t sleep, which is rare. My nights here are usually easy.’
‘You’re in trouble, aren’t you?’
Tolman looks like he might try to run, but soon changes his mind. Shadow would tackle him in seconds, and there’s no hiding in a place like this. ‘I don’t know what you mean.’
‘Where’s Naomi, Martin?’
A dry laugh rattles from his mouth. ‘I’d never harm her, believe me.’
‘Spit it out, for God’s sake.’
‘I didn’t give you the complete story, that’s true.’ Tolman’s gaze remains fixed on the sea. ‘I was afraid Deborah would overhear us.’
‘Tell me now or you’re under arrest for abduction.’
‘I ran into Naomi at an exhibition in London, ten years ago. It was like a grenade blowing my perfectly ordered life apart.’ He drops down onto a boulder, as if his legs can no longer support his weight. ‘I hadn’t seen her since college, yet my feelings hadn’t changed. I was infatuated; it all came rushing back. She cared for me too, but nothing’s permanent in her eyes. I left my first wife and kids for her, which was a terrible mistake. A few months later she ended it.’ The raw pain in his voice makes his speech grind to a halt.
‘Keep going, Martin.’
‘I went to France to build a new life, but she followed me. The relationship lasted another year, until she walked away again.’
‘So this is revenge?’
He shakes his head vehemently. ‘She’s not to blame. Her childhood was dreadful; first the care home, then endless foster parents. That’s why she can never settle.’
‘You got involved again after she moved here?’
‘I think she tracked me down. She believed I’d end my marriage to Deborah, like the first time, simply because she’d changed her mind.’
‘You wanted her so much you killed Alex Rogan. Did you think they were having an affair?’
‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’ Tolman’s voice drops to a murmur. ‘If I knew where she was, I’d set her free. I can’t bear the idea that she’s in pain somewhere, out of reach. That’s why I’m out here, searching. I owe her that much at least.’
‘What about your wife?’
The architect flinches. ‘Deborah’s been my salvation. She’s given her life to helping others and stopping their suffering. I can’t throw my marriage away.’
‘Why not tell her the truth?’
‘It would hurt her too much. Naomi asked me to leave Deborah, but I refused.’
‘Yet you slept with her anyway.’
‘Once, soon after she arrived. If Naomi makes up her mind she’s impossible to refuse, but her work’s like a calling. It always comes first.’ His words falter again. ‘A relationship with her is like confronting a whirl-wind.’
‘If she’s alive she won’t be thrilled that her home’s been destroyed.’
‘She’ll be devastated,’ he replies. ‘Naomi’s not robust anymore. When we were young other people’s opinions didn’t matter, but now a bad review leaves her wounded for days. That’s why I’m afraid for her.’
‘How did she react when you ended the affair?’
‘She said we could be friends, but I’ve only seen her in public since.’
‘Was she afraid of someone? Whoever’s taken her has got Eddie Nickell’s baby, too.’
‘My God, that’s terrible.’ His eyes blink shut for a second. ‘Naomi doesn’t trust Gavin Carlyon. She believes he hates her for bringing change to St Agnes.’
‘Go home now, Martin, and lock your doors. We’ll talk tomorrow.’
He steps closer, eyes glittering like wet flint. ‘My wife would fall apart if she knew I’d been unfaithful.’
‘I can’t promise to hide it.’
‘Please don’t destroy my marriage over a mistake; Deborah will be the one that suffers.’ His gaze is imploring.
‘My priority is finding Naomi, before it’s too late.’
The architect’s speech leaves me confused. There’s so much distress in Tolman’s voice, he could be the perpetrator or a victim, caught between competing demands. His shoulders are hunched as he heads across the beach, with Shadow still snapping at his heels.