‘Someone from work?’ Martha was surprised but would be delighted if the police had already found out who the kidnappers were. ‘Who is she – a colleague – a client, what? Do I know her?’

Richard took hold of Martha’s hand. ‘You don’t know her and no, she’s not connected to work at all. Martha, I’m so sorry. She’s someone I met a few months ago... and things just sort of happened. She’s not important to me – it’s you I love – you and Danny.’ Richard searched her face.

Martha had turned quite pale. ‘You’ve been having an affair?’ For a moment she was silent, processing her husband’s revelation. ‘But how is she connected to the kidnapping?’

‘It appears she’s done this sort of thing before. She targeted me and when she knew sufficient details about our family and our routines, she helped the kidnappers to snatch Danny on his way home from school. I don’t know much more myself but DI Radford’s on his way to see her now and possibly arrest her. I’m not sure what will happen.’

‘Does she live in Bristol?’ Martha felt surprisingly calm, but then she’d gone through so much in the last week, her emotions were drained.

‘No, in Portishead.’

‘But when have you had the time to have an affair? You work all the hours God sends, either here or in London.’

Richard hung his head and made no reply. The truth slowly dawned on Martha. ‘You don’t do any pro bono work in London, do you. It’s all been a lie, a cover for you to be with her. And when you said you were staying overnight in London, you were with her, weren’t you.’

‘Yes – but I’m so sorry, Martha, I’ve been a bloody fool to be taken in by her when it’s only ever been you I love.’

‘And when did you realise she’d played you for a fool? When the police told you about her?’ Martha summed it up correctly and her husband couldn’t form a coherent answer. ‘Is there anything else you’d like to tell me, Richard? Is she connected to the so-called investments you’ve made of late?’ Again Martha was astute, a step ahead of him.

Richard’s face burned with shame. ‘Yes, the money’s gone to her. I’m so sorry.’

‘All of it? All our savings and Danny’s university fund? You gave it all to her?’ Martha was suddenly furious. ‘How much? How much has your mistress cost us? And don’t lie to me. I want to know the truth!’

‘I bought an apartment in Portishead, but I would have replaced the money in time,’ he confessed.

‘So presumably you can now sell this apartment to at least get some of our money back?’

‘No... it’s in her name.’