James Mohktar noticed. I knew by the very slight movement of his eyes away from Fleur’s hands sorting the photographs to me. Fleur laid them out across the table.

‘Those are my parents, of course. I don’t suppose you remember them?’ she said, touching the photographs of Gran and Grandpa. I stared at them. They seemed young too, although of course they must have been middle-aged. Their faces were blank with shock, their eyes clouded. Fergus told me once that they seemed to age with terrifying suddenness after David and Saffie went. My grandparents have always blamed themselves for leaving Fleur alone to go and see Sam in Penang.

‘I do remember them,’ Inspector Blythe answered quietly. ‘I felt a profound respect for both of them. They were both dignified and helpful, despite the tragedy that had befallen you all.’

I watched the colour seep into Fleur’s cheeks. I do not suppose she was able to be either dignified or helpful. Guilt combined with shock and panic must have pulverised her. Pity welled up inside me and I reached out to touch her arm. God! How I had judged her all these years. I thought of Jack dying and shivered. Fleur had still been reeling over my father’s sudden death; how on earth could she have borne Saffie’s disappearance.

Jack was over by the window, sitting looking out, not quite knowing if it was appropriate to leave me and go outside and walk. He was not part of this past of mine. Mohktar, as if sensing this, walked over and sat by the window with him, watching us.

Fleur looked up, surprised at my touch, and gave me a small smile. Then she went back to the names and photographs.

‘I don’t think I can add anything more now, after all these years, than I could at the time,’ she said, staring down at the photographs of people still young. ‘We knew the Allises only vaguely, from parties. David would have known the husband, Richard, rather better, from flying. The Morrises we did not know at all.’

The inspector leant forward and rearranged the photographs under Fleur’s hand into the rest houses where they had been staying.

‘I know it must seem pointless, Mrs Campbell, when people and places have faded over the years and we are going over the same ground again, but humour me. It refreshes my memory as well as yours. You would be surprised at the odd relevant things the brain retains…’

Fleur looked at him, started to say something and then changed her mind.

‘The Dury family my parents knew quite well. I didn’t as they lived in Singapore, not at the naval base. The teachers I knew by sight and had chatted to, that’s all. The Addisons, I hardly knew, but Alex flew with David. Beatrice had been a QARANC, an army nurse in Changi, I think. They had only been posted in a few months. Beatrice was pregnant. I was told Alex stopped flying after the accident and went back to his regiment.’