Ruby is washing strawberries as night falls, the kitchen windows misted with steam. Billy is too busy for conversation as he prepares fish stew with saffron, the pungent odour making her hungry. His stereo is tuned to local radio, which plays the shipping news and weather forecasts interspersed with old pop songs. She lets herself daydream as she prepares desserts.
What if she allowed the last man on her dad’s list to survive? Kitto’s child could grow up with two parents, and she could stay on Bryher with Joe. Billy would teach her to cook every dish in his repertoire, and the loneliness of her childhood might be replaced by friendships. She remembers Denny Lang telling her to make a fresh start; his words infuriated her at the time, but perhaps the old bastard was right. She’s never done anything for herself alone; Bryher could give her the type of freedom she dreamed of as a child.
She jerks out of her reverie when Billy calls her name.
‘How are you at boning fish?’
‘Not too bad.’
‘There’s some cod in the fridge. Can you prep it for me?’
‘Will you let me make a call first?’
He rolls his eyes. ‘Not lover boy again.’
‘I need to check my dad’s okay. He’s not been well.’
‘Okay, love. The fish’ll still be there you get back.’
Ruby rinses her hands, then slips outside. She stands with her back to the wall, keeping the sea in view. There’s no signal at first, but the internet finally delivers a horrifying message: Craig Travis died today, bringing peace to his victims’ families, according to the headlines.
She wants to scream, but bites her lip instead, trying to quell her grief. It feels impossible to keep up her pretence. If she stays outside too long, Billy will find her crying and she’ll have to find an excuse. Ruby screws her eyes shut. It takes effort to summon the self-discipline her father instilled in her from the start. Personal happiness is irrelevant now; her dad deserves a final tribute. She must kill the last man on his list, then hunt his girlfriend down.