After a few minutes, Grest checked what was happening outside. He seemed satisfied by what he saw and opened the door wide, indicating that I could leave. At that sign I felt an inexpressible surge of relief and hurried out to the top of the stairs, but, as my feet touched the top step, something pulled me up. The terrifying sight below was of Nick being pushed out the house by a heavyset man, his wrists in handcuffs. I couldn’t understand. He looked up at me. ‘It will be fine. I haven’t done anything,’ he called up. But his face betrayed the worry he clearly felt and I could only stare open-mouthed. ‘I’m all right. I’m all right.’ He was shoved out the door.

A second later my mind began to work again and I started to rush down, but the thin, white-haired policeman was at the bottom and he caught me before I could run outside. ‘Don’t,’ he said. ‘Best not.’

‘Is he under arrest?’ I asked, frantic for someone to tell me what was going on.

It was Grest who spoke again. ‘It would be best if you go home, Mrs Cawson,’ he said from above us.

The suggestion seemed to me nothing but a joke at my expense. Amid all the madness and confusion, I had been clinging to Nick, and now all that was left was the chaos.

‘Is he under arrest?’ I pleaded.

‘Yes,’ replied the old policeman.

‘Why?’ I couldn’t think why they wanted him. It made no sense. He couldn’t have been involved in Lorelei’s death. He hadn’t been there. I wanted to shout it to them to make them understand. What were they not telling me?

The policeman just looked up at Grest. ‘Ask him.’

The Sec spoke: ‘We will speak to you again later, Mrs Cawson. But for now I can have a car take you home.’

I looked to the white-haired officer. He seemed to shake his head very subtly. With an effort, I quelled my nerves. Nick hadn’t done anything, I told myself, so he would be safe. ‘No, I can find my own way,’ I said, forcing the words out as if things were normal. ‘Thank you.’

‘Your choice,’ Grest replied.

‘When will my husband be back?’ I asked.

‘That depends on him.’

I wanted to scream out that we weren’t criminals. ‘Where are you taking him?’

I looked again to the policeman, and his uncomfortable silence gave me my only answer.

5