‘There was a lot of talk that went on and on that evening. Some of Barstow’s plain-clothes men even attached a tape recorder to the telephone in case any kidnappers got in touch.’ There was a note of weariness in Mrs Salton’s voice – perhaps an echo of the weariness of that night. ‘I had a headache and went to my room to rest and I was looking across the water towards the mainland when I suddenly thought of the boat. It’s kept in a boathouse over there.’

I nodded. ‘I’ve seen the boathouse.’

‘I told Barstow and he had the boathouse checked. The boat wasn’t there.’ She paused, then said, ‘It was exactly midnight.’

‘So your husband’s body was discovered as a result of a sea search?’

‘No,’ she said. ‘A fisherman out of Hogtown discovered the boat early next morning and towed it into San Martin.’

I thought about it for a while. Stern fidgeted in the silence but Mrs Salton was as composed as ever. It all seemed to hang together and explained why there had been no hue and cry as soon as Salton went missing. Perhaps it hung together too well, but suspicion is an occupational disease in my trade. I said, ‘What do you think really happened, Mrs Salton?’

‘Substantially what was said at the inquest. I think that David was very angry when he left here, and to cool down he took the boat out. I think he had a heart attack and died at sea.’

‘What was your quarrel about?’

Stern jerked himself erect. Mrs Salton said, ‘It was about a personal matter which I don’t care to go into.’

Stern subsided, but not much. I said carefully, ‘So your husband was very angry – angry enough that you weren’t surprised he’d flown to the States, apparently in a fit of pique?’

She looked down at the back of her hands. ‘He was very upset,’ she said in a low voice.

‘Upset enough to take his own life?’

‘Don’t answer that,’ said Stern sharply. He glared at me and said frostily, ‘That’s a most improper question.’

‘Under the circumstances I think not.’

‘I’ll answer it,’ said Mrs Salton. ‘My husband would never commit suicide, Mr Kemp. He was not that kind of man.’

‘The idea of David Salton committing suicide is laughable to anyone who knew him,’ said Stern.

‘I had to ask the question,’ I said. ‘I’m sorry if it distressed you in any way.’

‘I understand, Mr Kemp,’ she said. ‘You must do your job.’ The way she said it made me wish I had a different job.