Thirty-Six

Luke tells Pip and Ravi that he went to meet “Layla” at Lodge Wood, but Jamie Reynolds appeared instead. Jamie, nervous with his hands in his pockets, said two odd words that sounded like “child broomstick” or “child brown sick,” watched for Luke’s reaction, then ran. Luke chased but lost him in the dark and claims he went home.

Pip challenges why Jamie went on to the abandoned farmhouse, which Luke uses for drug pickups, but Luke denies being there. As they leave, Pip confirms Luke is twenty-nine and promises to bring the £900, deciding she’ll accept a sponsorship to pay him.

On the street, Pip and Ravi spot Max Hastings laughing with friends. Max meets Pip’s stare with a smile and a wave; Ravi shouts at him not to look at her, drawing attention before they leave.

Back at Pip’s house, they reconstruct Jamie’s movements: the meeting with Luke, the cryptic words, the flight to the farmhouse, the dropped knife, and the Fitbit stopping before the phone shuts off. They debate Luke’s involvement but conclude his openness argues against it, focusing instead on the strange phrase.

Pip notes Layla’s pattern: all contacts are white men aged twenty-nine or recently thirty, suggesting Layla is searching for someone specific. Searching the phrase variants online leads Google to suggest “Child Brunswick.” Pip recognizes it as the media name for the son coerced to aid serial killer Scott Brunswick, explains the case, and notes the son received a new identity under lifelong restrictions.