The message ended. Nick pondered what to do. It seemed unlikely he really did need to know what Caldwell had to tell him. But he was going to have to find out, just to put his mind at rest. And it would be easier to do that before Kate got back. He brewed some coffee and carried it upstairs to the study.

Sitting down at the desk, he listened to the message again, which made no more sense second time round, then dialled Martin Caldwell’s number.

It rang a long time before Caldwell answered. Then, ‘Hello?’ came the doleful voice, quite suddenly.

‘Martin? This is Nick Miller.’

‘Ah. Nick. Yes. Er, thanks … for calling back.’

‘How can I help you?’

‘Well, can we meet, as I suggested? I’m, er … going to be in London on Monday. I’m guessing you’ve just started your Easter holiday. You teach, don’t you?’

‘Yes.’

‘So, could we …’

‘What’s this about, Martin?’

‘About?’

‘Yes. Whatever it is, can’t we discuss it now, over the phone?’

Long pause. ‘No. No, I don’t think that would be … a good idea. It’s … complicated.’

‘Can’t you give me some inkling of what this is about? You said in your message something surprising had happened.’

‘Well, it has.’

‘And what is it?’

‘I can’t … Look, Nick, I don’t want to tread on any toes, but I think you’re entitled to know.’

‘Know what?’

‘Well, it’s … about your father.’

‘My father?’ What was the guy talking about? Nick had never known his father. Geoff Nolan, another occupant of the shared house in Exeter, had refused to have anything to do with Nick’s upbringing and had died of a drugs overdose before he was thirty. A long time ago Nick had tried to track down Nolan’s family, without success. All he had to remember his father by was one fuzzy snapshot given him by Caro.

‘Yes. Like I say, it’s … complicated. I’d be much happier … talking about it face to face. Is Monday any good for you?’

‘You’re going to have to give me something more now you’ve mentioned my father, Martin.’

‘And I will. On Monday. We really shouldn’t … discuss this on the phone.’ The hint of cloak and dagger irritated Nick. In fact, Martin Caldwell was pretty irritating all round. ‘You live in Greenwich, don’t you?’

‘Yes. But—’

‘Shall I come there? Around … mid-afternoon?’

Nick took a moment to think. He could continue badgering Caldwell into telling him what the hell this was all about right now or he could just let him have his way. In the end, the easiest course was to give in. ‘OK. If you really think it’s important.’

‘Oh it is. Yes. Definitely. I can’t really … overestimate its importance.’