She swallows, and his glance darts my way. I clasp my hands together, twisting them.

‘He came up a bit later and kissed me,’ she says.

‘You were still awake?’

‘Yes.’ She drops her head.

‘Reading?’ he asks.

‘Yes.’ Her head pops back up and I give her a smile.

‘So, you hadn’t finished your five pages?’

She coughs. ‘I read much more than that.’ Turning to me she says, ‘Sorry, Mummy.’

I stroke her cheek. ‘It’s fine, my darling.’

‘Did you and your father chat?’

She bites her cheek. ‘Not really.’

He sits up straighter. ‘What did you do?’

‘He gave me a hug.’ She took a deep breath. ‘He told me a story until I fell asleep.’

‘A story?’

She squirms and a smile spreads across my face. She thinks she is too old for bedtime stories, but it was their special goodnight ritual.

‘A story about a princess.’ She sniffles. I hold tight to her hand.

I send a stern look to the chief inspector.

‘Anything else?’

She tilts her head to the side. ‘No.’

‘Thank you for being so helpful.’ Each word is spoken slowly, and I frown.

‘If you recall anything else, like what had bothered you when you were sailing, please let me know.

‘May I go now?’ She sits up straight.

‘Yes.’ He stands and Diana races from the room. I hear her footsteps up the stairs and then her door close.

He fixes me with an intense stare. ‘I feel she is holding something back.’

‘I don’t.’

‘But what about the boat comment?’

‘That could simply be that her father had spoken harshly to her or someone else had while they were sailing.’

From his expression, I can tell he didn’t believe me. ‘Allan was very easy going but he was a stickler on a boat.’

‘How so?’

‘He had a boat full of people and many had never sailed before, so I imagine he was safety conscious rather than at ease as he is – was – when sailing normally with Diana.’

‘Well, if she tells you any more, please let me know.’

‘Certainly.’ I leave him in the office. So much is pounding in my head. It wants to escape but it can’t. If Tom had been the one to follow me and to have witnessed what I had done, then I would be able to talk to someone. But he hadn’t, and it is George I have to rely on to sort this mess out. But I’m not sure how the Americans can put a lid on this without raising suspicions.

87. Lottie

87

Lottie

6 August 2018, 1.00 p.m.