Estelle comes quickly across the gravel, almost running, no – scuttling, like one of those creatures that went into the bourride – and she knows that while she was in bed with Bryce in his small apartment behind the port, Harry has died.

Our lives run on rails.

But Estelle tells her he has had another stroke and the air ambulance is on its way. Estelle has ordered it after talking to Mr Abbott. Estelle has had the last word.

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

From down this end of England, London looks alien and very distant. Melissa’s only been to London twice. Her mother is advising her. She took a course in London for six months in 1981 and retains some expertise. She is concerned about Melissa’s clothes. She thinks Melissa should have a suit and has seen just the thing in Marks & Spencer. It’s elegant. Against her better judgement Melissa has agreed to go with her to see what’s on offer. She favours the single-breasted, notch-lapel suit, with slacks, but her mother thinks that the single-breasted, one-button, chevron, dark suit is more classic, although Melissa isn’t sure what she means by ‘classic’. Linguistic philosophy, module 11, Ordering the Language of Philosophy, has made her sceptical about the loose use of ordinary words: ‘classic’ could mean anything. Like ‘boring’. It’s £55. The skirt is another £45. She tries it on and thinks that maybe the skirt is a little tight, emphasising her plumpness, but the assistant says that she looks great, it only needs letting out, and they buy it on her professional recommendation: It’s a real classic. You can’t go wrong. They try on a white silk-look blouse to go with it. Then she hurries to the office, leaving her mother marvelling at the elegance of the classic suit, with the assistant nodding enthusiastically.

The editor wants to see her.

‘Come.’

He is smoking and his office is in a low fog.

‘Sit down. I liked your blog on Pamela Anderson and Shakespeare. Very good. It’s a freak-show out there. Anyway, I want you to record your conversation with your source tomorrow for accuracy and I want you to phone me just before you meet him. Let him talk. Don’t ask too many questions. Sources are usually people who have a grudge and they can’t wait to tell you what they know. Just be as sympathetic as you can and take a few notes for authenticity. And bail out if he seems like a nutter.’

There’s a harsher note to his voice than any she has heard before. Tougher. He has suggested the meeting place, the courtyard of Somerset House with a view of the fountains, and her source, Alan39, has agreed to meet there. The editor thinks it will be safer to meet in a public place.

‘Now, Mr MacCleod, you haven’t told him about this?’

‘No, you mentioned that.’