At least my left hand had settled down after a proper dose of my immunosuppressants, but, as always, there was a fine balance to be found: to take enough of the drugs to stop my body attacking the alien tissue on my left, while leaving enough natural resistance to fight off any infection in my damaged right. Only the next few days would determine if I had the balance right.

I always think that International Arrivals halls at airports are such happy places, with far-flung friends and relations reuniting after long periods apart.

I watched as a family of two parents and three small children were greeted excitedly by grandparents, while a young couple embraced passionately, the man lifting his newly arrived girlfriend off her feet and swinging her around in unbridled joy.

As 17.57 got closer and closer, I dreamed of such a reunion with Marina, constantly worrying that the reality might be frosty, even hostile.

Time seemed to almost stand still as I counted out the seconds, urging the digital clock on the arrivals board to click over the minutes.

The expected arrival time came and went and still the board didn’t change.

Had something gone wrong? Had the flight been diverted, or maybe worse? Had it ploughed into the ground short of the runway?

Finally, at 18.02, the EXPECTED 17.57 changed to LANDED 18.00.

I breathed a huge sigh of relief and laughed at myself for being so dramatic.

Of course everything was all right. Marina and Saskia were here, safely on the ground at Heathrow.

Earlier, I had taken Chico to Banbury, for him to catch a train back to London.

‘Why don’t you wait and see Marina?’

‘Thanks, but no thanks. You two need to sort this out between yourselves. You don’t want me hangin’ about, clutterin’ up the place and sayin’ somethin’ bleedin’ stupid.’

I wasn’t sure I agreed with him. Just as with my dealings with Valance and Asquith, I thought I might need some reinforcements, but perhaps he was right after all.

‘Anyway,’ Chico had said, ‘I’ve arranged to see Ingrid again tonight.’

I had looked across at him, but he’d just stared ahead at the road, saying nothing more.

LANDED 18.00 changed to ARRIVED 18.07, which I knew meant the aircraft was now parked at the gate.

I could imagine Marina and Saskia standing up from their seats, collecting their coats and stuff and waiting to disembark, just a few yards away from where I was sitting, on the other side of the building.

My fear and trepidation levels began to outstrip the excitement.

I forced myself to calm down.

Detective Chief Inspector Williams had given me a business card with his personal mobile phone number, and I had called him at lunchtime, before I had departed for the airport.

‘How goes it?’ I’d asked him.