When you’re on the run, when you’re in hiding, you develop a new sense and one that makes you react quickly, and Andrew simply called out to us to come in before retreating. We came into the hall one after another, leaving the door open behind us. Alison was nowhere to be seen. Jason, I suppose, had been taken into his bedroom. A radio was on in one of the rooms and chamber music was playing. It was greatly reassuring and gave to the whole set-up a respectable air, so that when Andrew re-emerged, absolutely calm, even smiling, I inwardly congratulated him. Afterward he told us his manner was the tranquillity born of despair. He thought Nyland was a policeman.

Nyland, in much the same tone as his wife used, said, “I’m so sorry to bother you but actually I’d no idea at all anyone was living up here.”

“My wife and I have been here for three weeks,” Andrew said.

“Ah, that accounts for it. We went away a month ago.” Nyland’s suspicions weren’t entirely quietened. “Would you mind telling me who exactly let the flat to you?”

“Mr. Robinson himself. He’s a friend of my wife’s.”

This was a mistake, or seemed to be to me, but Nyland was satisfied. He said again, “I’m so sorry to bother you, but the times we live in, you know...” He looked at the Sainsbury’s bags, which we’d let drop onto the floor. You could see what was going through his mind. Were these people invalids or agoraphobes (like Liv) that they couldn’t do their own shopping? “Well, I’ll say good night, then, and maybe we’ll see you around.”

The door closed behind him and we heard his feet on the marble stairs.

“Why the hell did you bring that guy in here?” Andrew’s mood had changed from calm to rage. Relief had released fury. “You could at least have warned us. Jason’s frightened out of his wits.”

“We’d have warned you if we could,” I said. “He just came out as we were going upstairs, or his wife did.”

I’d never heard Silver so aggressive. “Come to that, why the hell did you tell us they were old? An elderly couple is what you said. We expected a pair of pensioners. Then out leaps this woman who looks like an Olympic gold medalist. Who said they were old?”

“Louis Robinson.”

Alison had appeared, holding Jason by the hand. He broke away from her and ran to me. I bent down and he threw his arms around my neck, pressing his cheek to mine. He was almost too heavy for me to lift but I managed it and hugged him, falling down into a chair with him on top of me.

“That’s right, isn’t it, Ally? Louis told you those Nylands were old?”