Beth, who was already dressed, opened the door to be greeted by a young ensign. He saluted and said, ‘Good morning, ma’am. The commodore wondered if you and Chief Inspector Warwick would care to join him on the bridge at around ten o’clock, when we will be sailing into New York harbour.’

‘You bet,’ said Beth, unable to hide her excitement. ‘How kind of him.’

William sat up in bed, and was about to protest when he saw the look on Beth’s face.

• • •

‘You’re a shameless hussy,’ said William, as he came out of the bathroom to see his wife looking at herself in the mirror.

‘I know,’ said Beth, ‘but I couldn’t resist it.’

‘How much?’ asked William, who despite himself couldn’t help admiring the necklace he’d last seen displayed in the gift shop window.

‘Nine hundred and ninety-five pounds,’ said Beth without any suggestion of shame.

‘And what did I get with the five pounds left over? A Rolex Submariner perhaps, or an eighteen-carat-gold eternity ring?’

‘I’m afraid not. All they could manage was a pair of plastic collar stiffeners, top of the range, the sales assistant assured me. I considered the necklace a small compensation for a woman whose husband had deserted her during the day and then disappeared in the middle of the night,’ Beth said as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

‘That doesn’t stop you being a shameless hussy.’

‘And where did you go in the middle of the night?’

‘To witness Fraser Buchanan’s burial at sea.’

‘But I thought—’

‘So did I.’

‘How clever of them,’ said Beth, as William pushed a collar stiffener into his shirt. ‘That way there’ll be no autopsy, no trial and no adverse publicity.’

‘And no justice,’ said William.

There was a knock on the door, and Beth opened it to find the young ensign had returned. ‘The commodore asked me to accompany you and your husband to the bridge, ma’am.’

‘Thank you,’ said Beth, as she linked arms with the ensign, leaving William to grab his jacket and close the door before catching up with them.

‘If I may say so, Mrs Warwick, what an exquisite necklace you’re wearing.’

‘A gift from my husband,’ said Beth, which at least caused William to smile.

William might have only reluctantly accepted the commodore’s invitation to join him, but the moment he stepped onto the bridge he changed his mind. He was mesmerized by the sheer size of the control panels that stretched from one side of the deck to the other, allowing the commodore a panoramic view of everything going on around him, including a bank of flashing signals that the alert young officers were studying intently. William listened to the quiet and efficient orders being given by the officer of the watch to the engine room below.

He also noticed that everyone on deck was wearing a black armband.

‘Everything’s electronic nowadays,’ said the ensign, interrupting his thoughts. ‘Though we still have two serving officers, including the commodore, who began their maritime careers with a steamship company.’