On the spur of the moment, I took Charles by the arm and led him towards the corridor. He was so bemused he banged his hip on the corner of the desk. ‘Damn it!’ he spat, screwing up his face and thumping the wood to distract from the pain.

‘Oh, God, your wound,’ I said.

‘It’s all right,’ he muttered.

We moved out to the stairwell. ‘Charles, what was Lorelei like? As a person.’

He pursed his lips. ‘I don’t know what to say about her, really.’

‘Was she stepping out with anyone?’

He looked at his feet, embarrassed. ‘I don’t know. She wouldn’t tell me things like that.’

‘Maybe there was someone special? A boyfriend? Anyone foreign? Or in the DUK?’

‘Foreign?’ He had a blank look.

‘Charles, I want to say something.’

‘Yes?’

‘You and I have had our differences in the past.’

‘One or two but –’

‘You’ve been very good to Nick, using what influence you have in the Party to help him. So I want to thank you for that. Thank you.’

‘It was my pleasure, Mrs Cawson.’

‘I’m glad. Charles.’ I put my hand on his arm and left it there. ‘Would you do something for me?’

‘If I can.’

‘Nick has been through so much recently. And now he’s applying to join the Party. I worry that he’s overdoing it.’

‘Overdoing it? I wouldn’t think so.’

‘I expect you’re right. You probably know him better than I do. But he has had a lot to deal with, hasn’t he?’

‘Well, yes, no doubt.’

‘Today, for instance. He must have had lots of calls.’

‘A normal number.’

‘Do you recall them all?’

He looked proud. ‘Yes,’ he said.

‘All work, I expect.’ He furrowed his brow. ‘Or some weren’t?’

He hesitated and looked back to his desk. ‘I should probably get back to work.’

‘Yes, of course. But if you do find he’s overworking himself, let me know and I’ll do something about it.’

‘Well, all right, yes.’

‘Thank you.’

Sitting on my bed that afternoon, I supposed no one would ever know whether it was Nick who was the father of Lorelei’s child or whether it was the other man, the one who was going to marry her and take her out of the country. She might not have known herself, of course.

When NatSec had suggested Nick was involved in Lorelei’s death, I had thought the idea ludicrous. But, after what I had learned about norethisterone and what Adam had told me about Lorelei’s plan to betray Nick, the thought had wormed its way into my mind. I had precious few facts, though, only suspicions and vague ideas.