They stood watching her as she made her way back. She was trying her best to move normally, but knew she was failing dismally when she saw Fanshawe’s eyes narrow.

‘You look dreadful,’ he said bluntly. ‘Have you seen a doctor?’

She lowered herself back onto the sofa. ‘I’m fine, honestly. The painkillers they recommended make me woozy, so I haven’t been taking them.’

‘Is your husband here?’ he asked.

With a slight smile, she shook her head. The question he wanted to ask, she knew, was why her husband wasn’t there to look after her. She could have told him, and if he had been there alone, she might have done. He might have been able to advise her on what to do. It was tempting, and she was about to blurt it all out when she caught Carstairs’ mean eyes looking at her. No, she’d given them enough ammunition to think badly of her, she wasn’t going to give them more to think the same of Jack. ‘He’ll be home soon,’ she said instead. ‘Please, if you want something to drink, help yourselves.’

‘We’re fine,’ Fanshawe said, taking the seat opposite her. Carstairs, meanwhile, stayed standing, leaning a shoulder against the wall. His eyes never left her, she could feel them boring into her. She had to keep reminding herself that she was the victim.

‘Have you news for me?’

Fanshawe shook his head slowly. ‘The investigation is ongoing. Lucien Pleasant, like most people who use blackmail as a means of extorting money, kept a low profile, but he wouldn’t have been invisible. We’re working our way through his contacts. We’ll find something, eventually.’

Molly gave a bark of laughter. ‘You’re no closer to knowing why someone tried to kill me.’ For a change there was no sneering grin on Carstairs’ lips. ‘Tell me,’ she said, looking straight at Fanshawe. ‘Do you still think the person who killed Pleasant, is the same person who tried to push me under a car?’

Fanshawe shrugged. ‘So far, we’ve not turned up any links between you, or to anyone you have in common.’

‘But you do still think there’s a link.’

It looked as if he wasn’t going to reply and then he rested his elbows on his knees and leaned towards her. ‘You meet Pleasant. A day later he turns up on your doorstep. The next day he is murdered and two days later, someone tries to kill you. So yes, bizarre as it is, I think there’s a connection. But as yet, we’ve no idea what that could be. We’re still checking a number of people. Stuart Mercer, who you were heading to meet the day you were knocked down, and your husband, of course.’

‘You’re checking out Jack? Why? Jack would never harm me.’ She saw Fanshawe exchange glances with Carstairs. ‘What is it you’re not telling me?’