I felt like I’d been kicked in the side of the head. Everything just went dizzy and dark. I think Sera must have seen the change in me because she leapt up quick as a hiccup and grabbed me by the arm, one hand on my cheek, trying to get me to look at her.

The door swung gently open. Pelletier leant against the doorframe, hands in his pockets. He looked relaxed but the open door permitted me to hear the angry voices drifting from down the hall. He looked to John. Gave a little nod, satisfied.

‘Sera,’ he said. ‘Your brother is making too much noise. I’ve told him there are several ways in which my colleagues will secure his silence. I trust you see the sense in helping him choose the route that does not involve his suffering.’

Sera nodded, her head jerking up and down. She rushed to Pelletier without a backwards glance and ducked under his outstretched arm. Pelletier gave me a rueful look. ‘I’m sorry about before. I’m sorry about all of this. I wish it were different. There’s much at stake. I can’t stomach another noble sacrifice but if it’s required in the name of our goal, I will have no hesitation in doing what must be done. Look after your husband. Stay quiet. I will try and make the next few hours no more uncomfortable for you than they must be.’

I didn’t get a chance to speak. He closed the door and turned the key.

And then it was just me, and the silent mess of my husband, and his posh little book full of fancy four-line lies.

CORDELIA

The rain started once I got past Leeds. It went from a few little splashes to monsoon season inside a few seconds. It was already black as ink beyond the glass and with the sheets of water cascading down it felt like I was driving through the middle of a broken TV. It was all static and flashing lights, my foot hard to the floor and only glimpsing the rear of the cars in front at the very last moment. I had my window down to relieve some of the steam on the inside of the glass so the car was filled with gusts of cold wind and little flurries of tooth-sharp rain. I kept going. Kept yanking at the wheel and sticking my head out of the side window, wincing into the distance to try and glimpse any obstacle before it was too late to avoid.