‘I expected your call, but don’t expect me to give you any answers about why they were together. I had no idea either. I don’t exactly keep tabs on Bart. I’m sorry I can’t help.’

Vivienne was as blunt as ever. The two women had never spoken directly about the relationship between their husbands. They simply knew they should be kept apart. Vivienne’s response was an emotionless barrage of blandness and Elaine put it down to shock. She mustn’t forget that the woman had just lost her husband, regardless of his questionable morals. Bart hadn’t been as lucky as Donald, though Elaine couldn’t help wondering if Donald might believe he was better off dead when he finally woke up, if he ever did. She knew that the headlines would hurt deep. Donald had always been sensitive.

‘Nice to talk to you too,’ Elaine said.

‘Let’s not pretend we have any catching up to do, Elaine. Or is there another reason you’re calling?’

‘Well, I thought you might have heard…’

‘What?’ Vivienne asked. ‘I know as much as you. In fact, I’m sure you know more. My husband is not the priority here, is he? The cabinet minister – and his reputation, of course – is what everyone is worried about. My husband is dead, and I’m sure you’re relieved about that, because no one will ever know what he was doing up there for sure. Goodbye, Elaine.’ She hung up.

Elaine stared at the mobile in her hand and back to the policeman, who stared forwards, as per his duty.

‘I’ll go and get my own breakfast,’ she said. ‘I need some air.’

Chapter 20

Johnny had sounded rough over the phone, but whatever he’d been consuming the night before didn’t stop him from answering Kelly’s call on the second ring.

‘Long night?’ she chided him.

‘You could say that. Jesus, I feel like shit. Jock had me up half the night sampling his top shelf,’ Johnny said. The real name of the landlord of the Wasdale Inn wasn’t Jock, but that wasn’t the point.

‘I’m sorry I didn’t see your texts until this morning, I was working late at Eden House and then I slept through. Christ, I ache,’ she said.

‘Me too, I’ve just tried to move,’ he laughed.

‘It’s all over the news, Johnny, that an instructor is staying there, at Jock’s, and he’s waxing lyrical to anyone who’ll listen that the crash was sabotage. Is that what you were getting in touch about?’

‘Yep. He’s convincing, Kel,’ he said. The use of his term of endearment for her sat awkwardly, but she let it go.

‘What’s that mean?’ she asked.