‘Nearly all of it, I think. He’s an evil and vicious old man, Bill. You’ve made a dangerous enemy. He won’t extend your contract.’ She folded her hands in her lap. ‘Hadn’t you better tell me what’s going on?’

‘Before I do that I’d like to ask you a couple of questions just to get things straight in my own mind. Was that true, what you said to Hosmer about the pressure he put on your husband?’

‘He never liked David,’ she said. ‘Remember I told you my family was against the marriage? He was the one who caused most of the trouble.’

‘You’ll get more trouble from him now,’ I said. ‘He’ll call in the loan on Salton Estates.’

‘The contract is cast iron and if he tries to fight it I can employ as many lawyers as he can. If I lose I can stand it.’

Forty million dollars makes a comfortable cushion. I could stop worrying about the future of Jill Salton. ‘Why did you go to New York so suddenly?’ I asked.

‘To see David’s sister. Something came up about the estate that she was worried about. What of it?’

I grinned. ‘I think you had Superintendent Hanna a little worried. I suspect he was wondering if you were going to come back.’

Her eyes widened. ‘I don’t see why he should.’ She stopped and drew in her breath.

‘Precisely,’ I said. ‘He’s still investigating your husband’s death.’

‘Commissioner Barstow told me the case was closed.’

‘Barstow may think he runs Hanna. Hanna has other views.’ I leaned forward. ‘Jill, the air needs clearing. An important question has come up and only you can answer it. What did you and your husband quarrel about on the day he went missing?’

‘Am I under suspicion?’ she said in a thin voice.

‘In a case like this, nobody is above suspicion.’

‘My God!’ She stood up and paced the room. ‘All I have to do is call Barstow and Hanna will be put firmly in his place.’

‘That would look really iffy,’ I observed. ‘You do that, and Hanna will definitely believe you have something to hide. Have you, Jill?’

‘Don’t be ridiculous.’

‘Then why all the fuss? Just a simple answer to a simple question will get Hanna off your back.’

She said primly, ‘I refuse to parade my private life before the world.’

‘You wouldn’t be doing that. Coppers can keep secrets.’ I thought about that and added, ‘So can insurance investigators.’ I watched her stalk angrily up and down the room. ‘Let me try to make it easier for you. Was it about Leotta Tomsson?’

She stopped in mid-pace and whirled around to face me. ‘What do you know about her?’

‘She was your husband’s mistress. When did you find out?’

Her face was white. ‘I didn’t – not really. Just suspicions.’