‘I’m sure you’re not,’ replied Elizabeth. She leaned forward and lowered her voice. ‘You don’t have to go the whole way and have sex with him if you don’t want to. I just need proof that he was about to, that the intention was there. You don’t need to show your face or anything like that. I’ll set the camera up so that it’s aimed at the bed. I’ll put it on the dressing table, hidden in plain sight.’

Camilla laughed. ‘This is like a spy movie. I’m actually quite excited by the prospect.’

‘After he’s gone, message me and I’ll come in. If it’s good, then there’s some extra cash in it for you.’

‘I like your style. I think we’ll make a good team.’

Elizabeth took a photograph from her pocket and passed it over to her accomplice, together with a piece of paper. ‘Here’s what he looks like, and he’ll be here on Friday afternoon. I’ve booked a room upstairs.’

‘How do you know he’ll be here? What if he doesn’t turn up?’

‘He thinks he’s meeting a potential client. Someone who wants to do business with him,’ explained Elizabeth. She’d gone to a lot of trouble to set this up and everything relied on her plan working.

‘So, I’ll text you once I’ve got his attention and then you’ll message to cancel the appointment?’

‘That’s right, then he’s all yours.’

Camilla looked at the photograph. ‘Not a bad-looking man, your husband. What’s his name? Not that I’ll use it, of course, until he tells me himself, I’m just curious.’

‘Owen. Owen Sinclair.’

Elizabeth couldn’t help smiling to herself as she drove back to Conmere that day. This was a fail-safe way of getting something on Owen. She had gone to Kendalton the week after she’d seen him at the betting office and then the pub – she’d wanted to see if he was there but she’d obviously spooked him enough to put him off returning. No doubt he had changed his whole routine and found another day and another town to feed his gambling and drinking habit, but Elizabeth had been unperturbed. This time he wouldn’t even know he’d been caught with his trousers down until she showed him the film, and before that she’d make sure she had made several copies of the footage. There’d be no dropping it in a pint of lager this time. She fully intended to ensure there would be no wriggle room for Owen.

Two Years Earlier
Kendalton Green Hotel, Kendalton, 9 September, 4.10 p.m.