The woman stretched. She was well presented, and so she should be as a cabinet minister’s wife. She wore immaculately applied make-up, and her hair was coiffed. Kelly thought she’d seen her in the paper alongside her husband at some point, and she carried that air of a senior politician’s wife: a combination of purgatory and privilege.

‘How is he?’ Kelly asked.

‘To be honest, I have no idea. They test him every ten minutes, or so it seems,’ Elaine said, smiling weakly.

‘He’s in the best place.’ She instantly regretted her facile comment. ‘Sorry, what I mean is, this hospital’s critical care history is excellent.’

‘I’m sure you know all about that in your line of work,’ Elaine said respectfully.

Kelly liked her. But she was yet to delve into why someone might want to bring down her husband’s helicopter, or why he was rubbing shoulders with somebody like Kennedy-Craig. She had to tread carefully. Elaine Reilly could easily be a sheep in wolf’s clothing. Politicians didn’t get to the top of the slippery pole without a ruthless spouse by their side.

‘I’m going to ask you some direct questions and some of them might not seem relevant, and others, well, frankly impertinent,’ Kelly said.

‘Fire away, I’ve known the PM for twenty years; you can’t scare me.’

Kelly smiled. ‘There were some disturbances at the climate conference, did your husband discuss this with you?’

‘Yes, he had an egg thrown at him. Par for the course in his work, I’m afraid.’

‘Any other incidents we might not know about? Threatening letters? Stalkers? That kind of thing?’

‘Not that I know of.’

‘Did he discuss why he decided to catch a lift with Bartholomew Kennedy-Craig, rather than be chauffeured home like the other delegates?’

‘No. I had no idea Bart was up there.’

‘Bart? You know him personally?’

Elaine looked away. ‘Unfortunately, yes. He’s a prick. Excuse me.’

‘No problem. Expand, please. I’m interested.’ She saw that Elaine was studying her, measuring her up. Kelly saw some of the fire that was fitting for a member of the elite inner circle of government, and she knew she was about to get a glimpse of the true woman.

‘I’m sorry, these questions, which I am more than happy answering, of course, they’re making me feel as though my husband is under some kind of investigation. I thought you were being sent to me today to get a picture of Donald to help the Home Office counter the claims in the press.’

‘Ah. No, I’m in charge of the investigation into the helicopter crash.’

‘Investigation? It crashed.’

‘Yes, it did. But we don’t yet know why.’

Elaine stared at her. ‘Why it crashed? You’re telling me it wasn’t an accident?’