Page 175 of The Hallmarked Man (Cormoran Strike #8)

… and again begin the quest!

Here, where the reaper was at work of late…

Matthew Arnold The Scholar-Gypsy

‘Hi,’ said Midge, joining Robin at the end of Wild Court at a quarter to nine.

The dull grey morning was chilly and Midge was wearing a scarf with her leather jacket, while Robin was regretting that she hadn’t put on a sweater.

Both women were carrying large holdalls, and Robin smiled as Midge’s clinked.

‘Great minds,’ she said, adjusting her own on her shoulder.

‘Yeah, I brought most of my tool kit.’

They headed together into the alleyway, past the bins and the rear entrance to the Connaught Rooms.

‘How’re things with you?’ asked Robin, who hadn’t had a proper conversation with Midge in weeks.

‘Not bad. Did a bit of rebound shagging last night.’

‘Good for you,’ said Robin, feigning amusement, though ruptured relationships and hurt feelings were the last thing she wanted to think about right now. I’ve booked the restaurant at the Ritz… I’m giving you plenty of notice… ‘Who’s the lucky woman?’

‘Name’s Ellen. She’s my second to last ex’s ex.’

‘Ah,’ said Robin.

‘Always thought she was hot. She’s got a fookin’ horrible cat, though.’

‘Really?’

‘It’s only got three legs,’ said Midge.

‘You can’t blame it for that,’ said Robin, thinking of Strike.

‘And only one eye.’

‘Still—’

‘And when it’s unhappy, it shits in the bath.’

Robin started to laugh, then spotted Kenneth Ramsay walking fast towards them, his silver hair ruffled, his jacket hanging even more loosely on him than it had the last time Robin had seen him.

‘This is all very – when I got Mr Strike’s phone call—’

‘Please don’t get your hopes up too much,’ said Robin. ‘We don’t know for sure our theory’s right.’

But she could tell, by Ramsay’s agitated air as he fumbled with the shop keys, that he was praying for a miracle.