But, notwithstanding that broken window and the huge fright I had experienced in the car park, I felt that overall it had been a successful day.

I had not only found out exactly how Gary Bremner had died, but the arrival of two balaclava-clad thugs at Catterick to deliver me a message, or worse, had confirmed that Gary had been right—the very future of British racing was at risk.

Marina called as I was on the M1 south of Nottingham. I answered on my hands-free system.

‘How are things?’ I asked.

‘Not great. Pa’s breathing was worse again in the night. I called the doctor this morning, but there’s nothing more he can do. We are obviously nearing the end game. I just wish it would happen soon for all our sakes, his too. It’s no way to live.’

She was crying.

I blinked away tears from my own eyes. I hated to hear my darling in so much pain.

‘How’s Sassy?’

‘Sad. But she’s being a great distraction for Mamma. She’s now given all the chickens individual names and she goes and chats to them when the atmosphere gets too bad in the house.’

I smiled. Typical Sassy. All the many teddy bears and dolls in her bedroom had their own different names, and she never forgot or mixed them up.

‘Do you want me to come over?’ I asked.

Marina sighed. ‘I don’t know, Sid.’ She sighed again. ‘Elmo is coming from New York. I told him that Pa didn’t have long and that he’d been asking for him.’

‘And had he?’

‘Not really, but Mamma has.’

‘When does he arrive?’

‘He’s on the red-eye tonight. He should be here in the morning.’

I knew she hadn’t seen her brother for a long time. ‘That will be nice for you.’

‘Not in these circumstances.’

‘I’ll leave it for a few days, then,’ I said, slightly fishing for a positive response.

‘I think that would be best.’

At least it wasn’t an outright no.

‘I’ve had an interesting day,’ I said. ‘I went to the races at Catterick.’

‘Where’s that?’

‘In Yorkshire.’

‘Oh.’

She knew exactly why I’d been to Yorkshire.

‘What’s that noise?’ Marina asked.

‘Wind noise,’ I replied. ‘I’m driving on the motorway and the driver’s door window got broken.’

‘How did that happen?’

‘You don’t want to know,’ I said with a laugh. ‘I’ll drop it into the dealership tomorrow to get it fixed.’

She was silent for quite a long time.

‘Are you still there?’ I asked.

‘Sid, please be careful.’

‘Always, my love.’

And I would be careful. I couldn’t rely on the cavalry coming to my rescue again.

I’m not sure who was more pleased to see me, Charles or Rosie, when they met me in the hallway at Aynsford.