There was another pause, and then Rupert half shouted “Please—” but the unknown caller must have hung up, because a moment later he slammed down the receiver. Max heard the sound of footsteps hurrying back to the train, and – loud in the Szolnok silence – one sharp, gulping sob.

The sob was so sad that she very nearly ran to Rupert’s car to see if he was OK. She only just stopped herself in time. However upset he was, he was still a suspect – and she needed time to think about what that phone call might mean. Hugging the bedding close to her chest, she hurried to tell Sister Marguerite what she had heard.

But when she returned, Ester Rosenkrantz and Klaus Grob were in their car.

“Klaus snores,” Ester was announcing. “I’m sleeping here.”

Klaus smiled apologetically. “It’s true. Runs in the family. My great-great-uncle snored competitively. Won a lot of medals for Switzerland.”

“Why this car?” asked Marguerite bluntly.

“Next door to mine,” said Ester. “I want to be near my nephew.”

Max and Marguerite both snorted sceptically at the same time. There was a second’s awkward silence, interrupted by a loud thrum as the train started up again.

“Make my berth, Klaus,” Ester ordered. “I’m tired.”

And so Max couldn’t tell Marguerite anything, and had to lie down on her berth with the whole day bottled up inside her, listening to Ester sucking on her pear drops and smacking her lips.

Her mind whirred, keeping her awake. She got out her notebook and updated her suspect pages, which helped. When she had finished, they read:

? – RED-HEADED LADY

CELESTE LE BLANC

“Take great care”. Who is M? Why is he writing to Celeste, and why should she take great care?

Are they up to something?

Following Ester and Klaus?! Why?

ESTER ROSENKRANTZ

Weirdly heavy case, but couldn’t see anything.

Jewel collector. Keeps her diamonds at Fort Vaults.

Visiting Istvan Marek. Why? What was she trying to sell?

KLAUS GROB

Who needs that many socks?

Ester Rosenkrantz an only child. Klaus claims to be her nephew. Who is he really? Why are they lying?

UPDATE: Member of Die Eiserne Hand. Here as Ester’s security? Why didn’t she want him to join her in the baths?

RUPERT NOBES

Late to the train – missed police search. Blamed his snapped glasses.

Huge empty bag. Leaving room for something?

Known con man!

Strange phone call. Promised he would have something for somebody. Sounded upset.

Max tucked away the notebook, and tried to banish the images of the day from her mind. She kept seeing the fear on the security guard’s face, and the fury in Celeste’s smile. For the first time, she felt the weight of what they were doing. Was she getting caught up in more than she could handle?