Bloom paused in the hope that a brief silence might deescalate things. Caroline may have left Harry for another man but clearly she felt some significant resentment towards Karene. ‘You think Karene is crazy?’ asked Bloom, keeping her voice slow and calm.

‘I think she’s interfering in something that should be left to the proper authorities. A man blew himself up on a military base. It’s clearly a terrorist attack.’

‘You must have been to a fair few military balls in your time,’ Jameson said.

‘A couple, yes,’ said Caroline. ‘But to be honest they’re not my cup of tea.’

‘But you’ve been to enough to know that with a bomb strapped to your back, you could cause some pretty major destruction. I mean, how many people typically attend. Two hundred? Three hundred?’

Caroline nodded.

‘We’re wondering why so few were injured,’ said Bloom. ‘Less than four per cent of the guests.’

‘And why do you think eight ambulances arrived but only seven made it to a hospital?’ asked Jameson.

Bloom said, ‘You know Harry better than anyone, Ms Peterson. You were married for eighteen years and you have two children. We need your help. Anything you can tell us would be useful.’ She held Caroline’s gaze. They needed to win her back. ‘What sort of man is he?’

‘Not one for conspiracy theories, that’s for sure.’ Caroline sighed. ‘Harry’s a hard worker, very ambitious. But he’s also a great father; the get down on your knees and play type, not that they need that now they’re teenagers.’

‘And as a husband?’

Caroline thought for a moment. ‘A little detached. Not so much in the early days. He’s an entertainer at his core and in need of an audience. But behind the façade he could be distant and emotionless. He didn’t give much away.’

‘Is that why you separated?’

‘You get to the point in your life where you need more: someone who’s really present.’

‘And did you find that?’

‘I did.’

‘Another military man?’

‘Robin?’ Caroline laughed coldly. ‘Oh no, he’s a consultant like me. I’m done with the old club.’

‘What type of consultant?’ she said.

‘Orthopaedic.’

‘A bone breaker,’ said Jameson.

Caroline kept her eyes on Bloom. ‘The best of his kind.’

‘Isn’t she a peach?’ said Jameson as they climbed into Bloom’s car.

‘Typical senior medic. Precise, logical—’

‘Cold. How can you not ask about your husband’s experience at war? I get that you might not want all the gory details but surely you’d at least want to check in?’

‘Every relationship is different.’ Bloom pulled away from the kerb and drove out of the exclusive housing estate.

‘She’s got a bee in her bonnet about Karene.’

‘I know.’