John and I slowly start back toward the offices; his arm has found its way back around my shoulder.

‘Why did you run Alex? From what we could hear, it didn’t sound like you were in danger.’

I’ve been thinking about that myself. ‘I guess I just lost it. That chance I thought I was getting – not only the job, but the restoration of my credibility – was gone, and Cottrell was saying she was going to destroy the name I’ve worked so hard to build for myself as a dealer. And with everything else,’ I glance up at John, but he’s not looking at me, ‘it was too much. Besides, it felt good to sink my elbow into Fiona after what she did.’

We step from the Great Hall and John has to let go so we can walk down the narrow passage. The sudden absence of his touch makes me realise something.

‘Where were you?’ I can’t help but sound a little bit hurt. ‘And what happened to Sue?’

John stops walking. ‘Sue may be waiting for me back in the exhibition, or she may have left without me. I’m not sure.’ He looks down, then back at me. ‘She appeared out of the crowd and said she’d wanted to surprise me. That we should both make more of an effort, that sort of thing. I saw you wave and was about to come but then … then she was Sue. The old Sue, bright and funny. She dragged me around to look at some of the paintings, introduced herself and me to various people and spruiked my credentials as a conservator … I couldn’t get away and I guess I convinced myself you were just waving at me for a changeover. So I thought it would be okay.’ He takes a deep breath. ‘I didn’t realise how much time had passed. And then Monty appeared.’

He stops and I wait. I see a range of emotions on my best friend’s face – guilt, hurt, anger, and something else – and I realise what a struggle this is for him.

John sucks in another deep breath. ‘When Monty said you’d sent him to get me, right now, Sue was livid. She said she’d seen you earlier, trying to catch my eye, and sending Monty was just your latest ploy to try and split us up. She was furious when I said I had to go.’

He stops again, then reaches out and grabs my hand. I can feel his thumb making slow circles in my palm. ‘I felt sick when I thought how you’d needed me and I wasn’t there. How I let her take control, even though I knew you … I’m so sorry, Alex.’