38
In the empty cafe of a 24-hour supermarket off the A30 near Bodmin, they drank laced black coffees, no longer bothering to sober up, only to stay awake until everything was said.
‘I think he intended to come back,’ Slim said, aware his voice was slurring. ‘You’ve been reading it wrong. It’s clear from the note what he meant.’
‘Then why didn’t he finish it?’
‘Three reasons that could have happened,’ Slim said. ‘One: he changed his mind. Two: he decided not to write the note, because he intended to deliver the message in person, something he didn’t do, which rules that out. And three: he was disturbed before he finished it.’
‘Michael?’
Slim shrugged. ‘It’s possible, but you told me yourself you couldn’t have imagined him as a murderer. And having met him, I can’t either.’
‘Then who
