Page 55 of A Game of Lies

‘West of the nearest mast,’ Leo tells Ffion and George.

‘Is that it?’ Ffion blows out her cheeks.

George shrugs. ‘At least we know he hasn’t left the area.’

‘Angharad said there was money in her purse,’ Leo says. ‘Ryan could have got on a bus, even called for a taxi, but instead he’s stayed near Dragon Mount—’ He catches Ffion’s eye. ‘Near Pen y Ddraig,’ he says self-consciously. ‘Why would he do that?’

‘Because his wife’s here,’ George says.

‘No.’ Ffion looks out of the open kitchen door across the courtyard. ‘Because Miles is here.’

It’s sixty metres or so from the kitchen to the studio, but they can hear the muted sounds that indicate Miles is back from his run and is editing. Leo can’t make out the words on the clip being played, just the rise and fall of male and female voices, played at Miles’s customary loud volume.

‘We should warn him,’ Leo says.

‘I tried, earlier, when he was going for a run,’ Ffion says. ‘He totally blanked me.’

Leo considers their options. The intelligence isn’t specific enough to issue Miles with an Osman warning – an identified and imminent threat to an individual’s life – but it’s clear from what Angharad has told them that Ryan harbours deep resentment towards everyone involved inExposure. Especially Miles.

On Leo’s phone is a screenshot of the type of knife Angharad kept in her bag.

‘I don’t carry it around as a matter of course,’ she’d explained when she’d seen Leo’s reaction. ‘I’d been fishing, and it was still in my bag.’

The filleting knife has a long, tapered blade like a stiletto heel.Ideal for slicing, reads the website description, and a chill runs down Leo’s back as he thinks of it. The knife in the photo has a wooden handle, but Angharad’s is bone –it belonged to my father– and Leo imagines it gripped in Ryan’s anxious hand.

Miles is playing theExposurefootage louder, and now Leo can make out the words. A man shouts, ‘What are you doing?’

‘He’s going to damage his hearing, editing at that volume,’ George says.

‘Are you threatening me?’ comes the voice, loud but indistinct, muffled by distance and doors. ‘Get off me!’ The only men left in theExposurecamp are Lucas and Henry, but, even as Leo is wondering which man was shouting, he realises it’s neither, because the shouts are followed by a bloodcurdling scream and an anguished cry. ‘Help, help!’

Then nothing.

Leo, Ffion and George stare at each other.

Ffion moves first, but George runs faster, reaching Miles’s stable and hammering on the door. The curtains are closed, and she bangs on the glass then rattles the door handle. ‘Open the door!’

‘What’s going on?’ Jason appears behind them. ‘Did you hear that scream? Was that Miles?’

‘Stand back!’ Leo takes a step back then aims a kick at the lock. There’s a splintering sound, but the door holds, and he goes in with his shoulder, slamming his full weight against the wood. The door crashes open, and Leo just manages to stop himself from falling into what he immediately sees is a crime scene.

Miles is slumped at his desk. Above his head, theExposurecontestants are talking and laughing; a grotesque juxtaposition that turns Leo’s stomach. He feels for a pulse, but they’re too late.

Miles Young is dead.

STATEMENT

Inlight of today’s tragic events, this evening’s episode ofExposurewill not be broadcast. All filming has now ceased, and the remaining contestants and crew are being supported. The matter is in the hands of the police, and we will be making no further comment at this time.

Young Productions

PART TWO

TWENTY-ONE

SUNDAY | FFION

George is already calling in the job, passing the details of Miles’s murder in the same detached voice she uses to order a sandwich.Uniformed support and dog section, please, Control. CSI, FME, SIO …

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