Margaret must have seen how worried Clare looked because she said, ‘I’m not saying there is definitely a connection, Clare, but if the police have been following up on the information we gave them on the antiquities dealer, there’s every possibility that they may be seeking to protect their interests. You corresponded with him by email before we met up with him, didn’t you?’

‘Yes, but under the name of Emily Draper.’

‘Well, what if our White Van Man or his friends have put two and two together and worked out that Emily Draper is in fact Clare Hills, director of the Bailsgrove dig site?’

‘But how is that even possible?’

Margaret said, ‘Trust me, Clare, these people are no fools. They have ways and means.’

Jo cut in, ‘And you have been on television and in the newspapers since you met him.’

Clare put a hand to her mouth. ‘Oh shit! I never thought.’

Margaret said, ‘And though we went to some lengths to disguise my appearance, we made no such efforts with you, my dear, because you hadn’t been in the public eye. And in retrospect I can see that was an error of judgement on my part.’

Clare blew out her cheeks. ‘On both our parts, Margaret. But even if they’d worked out who I am, and where I lived, I don’t understand why they’d want to take Stephen’s old laptop.’

Margaret said, ‘Simple. They probably had no idea it wasn’t yours. They may have thought the emails you sent to the dealer were on it.’ She paused before adding, ‘But we shouldn’t put all of our eggs in one basket.’

Clare looked confused. ‘What?’

Jo said, ‘What Margaret means is that it may not be the nighthawks. After what happened here with Marshall the other day, it could have been him – or one of his stooges – trying to put the frighteners on you.’

Clare looked from Jo to Margaret and back again, unable to disguise her incredulity. ‘You’re not serious!’ But she could see from their expressions they were. ‘Marshall’s just an overgrown schoolyard bully.’ She hesitated. ‘You really think he might have done this? But why would he take the laptop?’

Jo said, ‘To make it look like a regular burglary, maybe.’

Margaret said, ‘My advice to you, my dear, would be to do exactly what Jo has suggested. Get away from this place – and your flat – for a few days. Take that weekend away. And for heaven’s sake don’t tell anyone else where you’re going.’