Since it was hardly relevant now, she put on some music and poured herself a drink before starting to tidy up. Later she’d make herself something to eat, take a shower, and since it would be pointless trying to sleep any time before midnight, she’d go to sit in the window to watch the revelries on the Promenade. She might even open a bottle of champagne. It would be good to toast in the New Year with so much to look forward to, even if she was on her own.

What she didn’t plan to do, but had known in the back of her mind that she might, was go through to her mother’s room to find out if Marcy really had shredded the mail that DC Leo Johnson had brought. She’d said she had, but would she actually have destroyed the prison letter before finding out what it contained? Yes, Claudia had noticed it in the pile, and though she’d pushed it out of her mind since, she felt compelled to know if her mother had kept it.

She found it, opened, in Marcy’s shoe cupboard, and as she stared down at the familiar and detested writing she felt bile rising in her throat. She was certain it contained something terrible, couldn’t imagine anything else coming from him.

My darling wife,

I am heartbroken by your desertion. Your failure to write to me, or come and see me is making the time here almost impossible to bear. Some days I feel I simply cannot go on, for without you in my life there seems no point to it.

Please, wherever you are, reconsider your decision to leave me. I know I have not always been a perfect husband, but I love you, my angel, and I have always done my best to give you everything you ever wanted.

Eugena tells me that you have taken some keepsakes from the house, and I felt so happy when I thought you wanted to hold on to something of mine to remind you of me. But then you didn’t get in touch, and we don’t know where you are, so please contact Eugena, or write to me, my darling, to let me know that you are safe.

Your safety means everything to me, you know that.

I will never give up on you, my precious. Not ever.

Your beloved

Marcus

Claudia shivered with fear and revulsion. The sugarcoated words, the declarations of love that were so artificial and insidious they were sick, were all for the censors, of course. Those cold and disinterested eyes wouldn’t see the threats between the lines, nor would they pick up on the intimidation the way she had, the way he had meant her to.

She understood him completely and she wasn’t surprised by this letter, only afraid and already trying to plan what to do.