Contents

Epigraph

Chapter 1

He dreams of skulls. Seventy-eight of them—factors 1, 2, 3,…

Chapter 2

The letter came one Saturday at the end of April,…

Chapter 3

Dear Mr Straker,

Chapter 4

Alan Fisher sat neatly on the train, his back to…

Chapter 5

‘Jonathan. It’s Imogen. Listen. You know the roof?’

Chapter 6

Straker is not interested in the rows of televisions in…

Chapter 7

Mike folded his arms, stretched his long legs out in…

Chapter 8

Sitting next to Straker, eating his crisps, Doody realises that…

Chapter 9

Patterns. Rhythms. Sequences. They are all around Straker and part…

Chapter 10

Anne was standing by the open train door watching a…

Chapter 11

Doody pushes a chunk of crusty bread and a slice…

Chapter 12

Dear Mr Straker,

Chapter 13

Harry sat alone on the train and pretended to look…

Chapter 14

It’s dark by the time Doody finishes mowing the playing-field,…

Chapter 15

Dear Mr Straker,

Chapter 16

So, who is Maggie?

Chapter 17

As they drive away from the lighthouse, Doody doesn’t speak.

Chapter 18

Doody has tried to visualise seventy-eight people. In the three…

Chapter 19

Straker runs all the way to the lighthouse. It is…

Chapter 20

Steve sat in the aeroplane, unable to believe that this…

Chapter 21

‘Mother? It’s Imogen. Jonathan said you wanted me to phone.’

Chapter 22

Straker follows Simon Taverner down his narrow hall and into…

Chapter 23

In Doody’s mind, Stella has always been tall and authoritative,…

Chapter 24

Straker sits at the end of the pier with Doody’s…

Chapter 25

Rows of cardboard boxes from the supermarket stand around Doody’s…

Chapter 26

It’s a fine, sunny day, the sky pale blue and…

Chapter 27

All faces are turned to the windows on the right…

Chapter 28

Doody marches through the cottage gate and turns towards the…

Chapter 29

Doody wanted Straker to run, to escape from those vindictive…

Epilogue

Harry has been walking for three hours. He caught the…

Acknowledgements

P.S. Insights, Interviews & More…

About the Author

Praise

Other Books by Clare Morrall

About the Publisher