Rosie barked and wagged her tail, while Charles looked rather haggard.

‘Mrs Cross was away today,’ he said. ‘Her daughter was unwell and she had to look after her two grandsons, so it was just me here. That dog of yours is hard work. When she’s inside, she wants to go out, and when I put her out, she immediately wants to come in again. I’ve had absolutely no peace.’

‘I’m sorry,’ I said, trying not to laugh. ‘Has she been fed?’

‘I gave her the dog biscuits you left.’

‘What? All of them?’ I’d left enough for at least two meals.

‘Yes. Was that wrong?’

‘No, it’s fine.’

No wonder Rosie was happy.

‘Do you fancy a snifter?’ Charles asked. ‘I’m going to have one. I think I’ve earned it.’

‘Go on, then.’

The three of us went into his drawing room and he poured a good deal more than a snifter of whisky into each of two cut-glass tumblers. He handed one to me.

‘Our men,’ he toasted, taking a large swig.

‘Good health,’ I replied, doing the same, only with a smaller swig.

Charles and I sat down in the armchairs facing each other, while Rosie curled up on the carpet at my feet and went to sleep.

‘I just don’t believe it,’ Charles said, looking down at her. ‘Why didn’t she do that for me?’

‘I must have a natural way with animals.’

‘Don’t give me that bullshit,’ Charles said, laughing out loud. But then he got more serious. ‘Have you heard from Marina?’

‘She called me this afternoon. She was in tears. Her father is dying. The doctors say they can do nothing more for him.’

‘What a bugger.’ He took another large slug of his whisky. ‘But it comes to us all in the end. Are you going over there?’

‘Marina says not to come at present. Her brother is flying over from New York.’

‘But she needs you, not her brother.’

Did she?

Did she really want someone who couldn’t give up the investigating drug?

I had tried—God, I’d tried—but there was something in me that needed to right the wrongs I found, especially those in the other love of my life—horse racing.

Please don’t ever ask me to choose between my wife and my addiction. I craved both.

Christ, how I craved both.

CHAPTER

14

IN ALL, I spent a good hour with Charles. Both he and I seemed grateful for the company.

‘Fancy another?’ he asked, standing over me with his favourite decanter.

‘Better not,’ I said. ‘I have to drive home soon.’

‘You could always stay over. Mrs Cross always leaves the bed in the spare room made up.’

‘Thanks, Charles. But I’ll have to get back.’