‘I had one glass of wine,’ Sofia said, putting the spoon down at last. ‘Eight hours before, at least. With food. But when something like this happens, they start turning over every stone. And if some intern says they saw you at a bar – which was a restaurant, by the way – the night before, and they can’t be sure, but it looked like you were really putting it away, that doesn’t help. Maybe the intern didn’t see it right, or maybe they’ve got a grudge, or maybe someone’s gently encouraged them’—she rubbed her thumb against her fingertips—‘to embellish things . . . People have things to gain from this. It’s all political. The lesson is, don’t go for dinner at the spot all the med students use as a boozer. Saying you’re there for the food, which I was, is the same as saying you read Playboy for the articles.’

‘Ian Fleming’s been published in Playboy,’ I said, not sure it helped her point. I thought for a second, plucked something from my memory. ‘So’s Atwood, actually.’

‘Exactly! Like I said, I had a meal. I wasn’t impaired. It wasn’t a mistake. And, look, they don’t test doctors like they test athletes. So, what are they going to say? An intern saw me having a glass of wine? Any death goes to the coroner within thirty days, sure, but that’s standard practice to review it. They’re not basing it on anything. They’ll find nothing untoward.’

That sounded to me like the flurry of justifications a person gives when they’ve thought about defending themselves, but I let it slide. ‘Why isn’t Marcelo representing you?’ I asked. ‘Sure, the hospital has lawyers. But he’s a cut above.’

‘Like I said: it’s political. Besides, you’re a lawyer now – you doing anything next week?’

I snorted at that. ‘Why’s Katherine taking it so personally?’

‘Katherine’s pissed . . . well, because that’s her natural state of being, but specifically because she heard the rumours and came to me with the same questions you did. She offered me help, and when I explained what I’ve just explained to you, she didn’t take it well. She probably thinks I’m past saving. I don’t want to be her little project anyway.’

I nodded. That did sound like Katherine.

‘Now, believe it or not, I have some questions for you.’

‘Only fair.’

‘Why are you doing this? There’s a policeman here; let him do the investigating.’

‘We both know if it’s not his first day, it’s his second. And’— I rapped the window with my knuckle—‘I wouldn’t be relying on his back-up to make it up here.’

‘That still doesn’t mean it’s up to you to solve this.’

‘Michael’s asking for my help. And I think I owe him that.’