Blackmail?

Luke thinks about what Matt has said. Laney's camera. He remembered her taking snaps. He remembers her, sitting on the wall, pointing and clicking while they played in the street, laughing at their antics, exaggerated for her benefit.

Film was expensive so she wouldn't have taken shots unless they were things that mattered. Luke tried to think about other things she would have snapped. There were old buildings that she liked - could there have been something in one of those that would have caused someone to want the camera?

Luke could see the validity in what Matt was saying but wasn't sure where that left them.

"The only thing is," Matt ruminated, "is why send the photos to us? If you wanted something to remain hidden, you keep it that way, wouldn't you? You wouldn't risk exposing yourself if you'd taken all of these pains to keep it hidden?"

Luke nodded to this and said, "Why after all this time? It's been seven years, so why now?"

Matt nodded too. "I don't think the timing is important. It's not the anniversary. It's not been revisited at all, her...vanishing, anywhere, so..."

Matt paused to think.

"I wonder if...oh, I don't know. I'm just pissing in the wind."

Matt put his head in his hands. Luke, who didn't like to see Matt deflated, said,

"Perhaps someone else found it? Like in a house clearance or something?"

Matt lifts his head and Luke can see he's thinking about this.

"Maybe...but then, why send the photos? I mean, someone's sought us out. No name, no address - just a blank envelope slipped through the door. No, it's got to be personal."

Luke thinks. He remembers seeing Laney's mum. Could it be her? He mentions it.

Matt thinks on this too.

"I don't think so. I think she'd hound us if she thought we had anything to do with it. It's too...subtle."

They sit in silence again.

"I think it's someone linked to Laney and they're just letting us know they're there and they're poking around. That we're under scrutiny or on their radar."

Luke says, "Why though? Blackmail?"

Matt pales. "Fuck, I hope not!"

Luke gulps fearfully.

***

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