There was a long pause while I thought of what it would be like if that turned out to be true. ‘Yes. I suppose I would have to,’ I said. There would be no point going on. He would be lost no matter what I did and it would only make things worse for Hazel and myself. I hoped to God it wouldn’t come to that. ‘They questioned me too, last night,’ I said.

He stopped. ‘The Secs?’

‘Yes.’

I described how they had shoved me into a wire cage in the back of one of their foul vans.

‘You got off lightly,’ he said, after thinking it over. ‘I’ve heard some of what goes on in their HQ. The cells below.’ He shook his head. ‘Though that officer, Grest, I’ve come across him before. From what I hear, if you’d given him a tenner he would’ve let you walk. I would try that next time.’ He sat down. ‘Does your husband often make house calls?’

‘Sometimes. Why?’

‘Oh, nothing. Just that this Comrade Taggan went into work that day, after your husband went to see him.’

‘So?’

‘Well, I thought doctors only make house calls for people who are too ill to get out.’

‘I expect if they’re very important, Nick will go to them.’

‘Yes, you’re probably right. Could anyone else verify your husband’s whereabouts? His secretary?’

‘I doubt it. Charles doesn’t go on calls with him.’ I gazed at him. ‘Do you know yet how she died?’

‘The force medical officer said at the scene that it looked to him like drowning – no injuries on her – but he couldn’t be certain until he had the body back at the morgue.’ I shivered at the harsh image.

‘And what did he say then?’

‘Nothing. By then NatSec had taken over. So I don’t know any more than you on that score.’

‘Wasn’t it just an accident?’ I appealed to him. ‘There was that Champagne bottle next to her. So she was drinking and slipped in the bath.’ If someone could prove that it had been just an accident, they would have to release Nick – unless, that is, they could find evidence that he had been involved in subversion. If he had been involved with a dissident group – maybe even one of those encouraged by the Americans – it would be a very serious situation.

Tibbot sounded sceptical. ‘Well, it happens – someone falls and knocks their head. But there wasn’t a mark on her. And her eyes open like that … Strange.’

‘So what do you think?’ I was just desperate for something to hold on to. It was like he was playing with me, holding out the prospect of an innocent explanation that would give Nick his freedom, then pulling it back.