‘Cheers.’ He lurched across the room to the chair and sat heavily before draining a quarter of the whisky in one mouthful. ‘Drink up,’ he said, raising the glass toward her.

She took a sip. It was good, and probably the closest she was going to get to food that evening. Remembering the crush of people in the lobby, she’d no intention of going down to the restaurant. Anyway, Jack had always been hopeless when drunk. She sipped some more and waited, deciding it was better not to push.

Finally, he took another mouthful of his drink, and stared into the amber liquid as if looking for the right words. ‘I’ve been playing the tables a bit, I suppose, but it’s under control.’

Whatever he was reading in his whisky, it wasn’t the truth. Molly heard denial in every word. The unexceptional playing the tables instead of the more insidious gambling was bad enough, but the overemphatic it’s under control meant it was anything but. A frisson of fear swept over her. How bad was it?

‘Is this why you were suspended?’ She sipped her drink again, hoping the sweetness would give her the energy she needed to get through this.

He slammed his glass on the table, startling her. ‘It’s got nothing to do with it,’ he said, raising his voice and glaring at her. He picked up his glass, realised it was empty and got to his feet. ‘D’you want another?’ he asked, slurring his words.

She shook her head, watching as he moved unsteadily to the console to fill his glass, unable to resist saying, ‘Haven’t you had enough?’

Ignoring her, he raised his glass. ‘Cheers!’ His mouth downturned when she didn’t raise hers. ‘Don’t you like your cocktail?’

‘It’s fine,’ she said, lifting it to drink. She finished it and stood. ‘I’m going home, Jack. Are you coming?’

He waved his arms around the room again, whisky sloshing from his glass. ‘That would be a waste, I’ve paid for the night.’

‘It doesn’t matter, Jack,’ she pleaded. ‘I want you to come home.’

He grinned, an inebriated twist of his mouth. ‘I want you to stay. Stalemate.’

She stood looking at him for a moment. Maybe she should stay. She felt dreadful, the day beginning to take its toll. They could get room service, maybe talk some more. Maybe, if they talked enough, the truth would come out. Because she knew she hadn’t heard it all yet. ‘You lied about the police visiting your office,’ she said.

He waved his free hand dismissively. ‘They rang to speak to me; the office gave them my mobile number. Does it matter?’

It was one of many lies he’d told her. She wanted to ask about Las Vegas, but in the state he was in, there didn’t seem much point.