‘On the contrary. She appears to know everything. You banked on her keeping her mouth shut because she’s implicated as well as you. She’s been enjoying the benefits, and she hopes to carry on enjoying the benefits. As long as she was asking for ten million pounds, as long as she had a hope of getting it, she would keep quiet about all of that. But something made her change her mind, it seems. Something persuaded her to go on the offensive.’ John looked from Rivelli to Christine, and back to Rivelli. ‘Do you have any idea what that might have been?’

‘She is a fool.’

‘Unfortunately for you, Mr Rivelli, I am not.’ John stood up. ‘The best I can do is make a full declaration to Revenue and Customs in the hope that they will allow you to settle your tax affairs . . .’

‘You will do no such thing.’

‘In the hope that they will allow you to settle your tax affairs without prosecuting you, Mr Rivelli. If you do not wish to retain my services, I will make a much simpler report and allow your new legal representatives to sort out the mess. Do inform me of your decision.’

He held the door open.

‘Christine,’ said Rivelli, but she could think of nothing in reply.

There was a long silence after Rivelli left the room.

‘I blame myself,’ said John, finally.

‘What? Oh no. You mustn’t.’

‘I took my eye off the ball. I should have followed my instincts.’

‘How could we know?’

‘Oh, I think we knew,’ said John, looking Christine steadily in the eye. ‘But there were factors that blinded us to our better judgement. In my case, it was dealing with my wife’s illness. I’ve allowed personal factors to compromise my professional conduct.’

And in my case? How much do you know? How far has it gone?

‘I suppose they will settle now,’ said Christine, after swallowing hard.

‘Yes, I suppose he will.’

‘And you will make your report?’

‘I have to, unless I want to face prosecution myself.’

‘What a mess,’ said Christine, staring at her feet.

‘Yes.’ John held the door open for her. ‘What a mess.’ She put on her coat. ‘Goodbye, Christine.’ They shook hands. They did not kiss.

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

The letter came without warning, not from Rivelli but from the managing agents, informing Miss Crabtree that they would require vacant possession of the property on the first of August, fixtures and fittings, bla bla bla, telephone and utilities, yours faithfully, not even sincerely, a blue squiggle, pp somebody she’d never heard of.

Victoria tried to speak Rivelli, but she knew it was useless. His mobile had long since been answered by a robotic voice informing her that the number she was calling was unobtainable, and if she rang the office she was passed from one extension to another until she fell into the void.