‘Can I offer you something?’ Gaby said, indicating the snacks. ‘Or I could ring for room service.’

Clare waved this away. ‘I won’t keep you long. I just wanted to update you.’

Gaby listened while she explained that both Luke and Doug were in custody now.

‘We do believe they conspired to have Russell shot,’ she said.

Gaby put her head in her hands. ‘I can almost believe it of Doug,’ she said, ‘but… Luke? My Luke?’

Clare nodded. ‘I know. It’s an awful lot to take in.’ She hesitated then said, ‘I’m not sure how to say this, Gaby, but we also suspect your overdose wasn’t accidental.’

Gaby held up her hand. ‘You’re not telling me anything I don’t know.’ She shook her head. ‘I don’t think Luke tried to drug me. I know he did.’

Clare stared at her.

‘I didn’t get where I am without being sharp. I’ve had my rough times – I’m sure you have too. But the one thing I never did was to seek solace in a bottle of any kind, including pills. I only had a few of these pills to start with. I’m guessing Luke phoned for a repeat prescription for me and stashed them away.’

Clare said, ‘But that would suggest it was planned.’

‘Let’s just say I threw a grenade in.’

Clare’s brow furrowed.

‘It’s like this, Clare. You remember me telling you I thought I might give my share of Russell’s money to dementia research?’

‘Yes.’

‘Well, it was only half an idea. I knew Luke was relying on Russell for his next TV series. He’s so ambitious, you see? Once he’s planning a production nothing gets in the way. And I knew too that he’d be expecting me to step in and fund it when Russell’s legacy came through. I thought I’d see how he reacted if I said I was giving the money away.’

Clare looked at her. ‘Gaby, you almost died.’

She nodded slowly. ‘I know. That went badly wrong. But I have you to thank for saving me.’ She rose and moved to the window looking out at the view. ‘It changes you,’ she said, ‘something like this.’ Then she turned back to face Clare. ‘I’m not the person I was two weeks ago – the person you met at the wedding. I’m changed by what’s happened.’ She frowned. ‘Keep this to yourself for now, but I’m moving back up to Scotland. I want to be near my daughter, and my dad for as long as I have him. David too,’ she added. ‘He’s back in my life and I don’t want to lose him again. Oh, I know he’ll be in prison but I’ll visit and, when he comes out, he’ll have us to come out to.’

‘But your TV show.’