Still no comment. She pictured Portia, one hand gripped in Stuart’s. They were probably holding the phone between their two heads, both listening, both quaking in fear in the face of her threats, waiting to hear how bad it was going to be.

It was time for the punchline. ‘Here’s what I want. Six million pounds, transferred into my bank account by one o’clock today. And please don’t insult my intelligence by saying you can’t get your hands on that sort of money because I know people like you and Stuart can do whatever they want. Six million. Once the payment has been confirmed, all the evidence against you will be destroyed and your passports will be returned.’

She smiled across the table at Jo. ‘You have realised they’re missing, I suppose?’

Allison held the phone out for Jo to hear when their answer, both voices in tandem, was a stream of colourful expletives.

When the tirade finished, she said quietly, ‘You have till one o’clock. I’m sending you my bank details by messenger. If the money isn’t there, I’ll go to the police, give them the passports, show them the photographs I took of the room, show them my bruises. They’ll have to wait for the DNA report, I assume, but I would imagine they’ll proceed to arrest you based on my complaint. Me, a poor, grieving, vulnerable widow. Then I’ll have my solicitor sue you for distress. I might not get six million, but I’ll get quite a bit. And you’ll be in prison. It’s up to you, Portia.’

Allison hung up without waiting for answer.

‘What happens if she calls your bluff?’ Jo said. ‘You have nothing.’

Allison was tapping her bank details into a message for Portia; she finished before she looked up to answer Jo’s question. ‘I wasn’t lying about the mattress. I bet she’s there now, turning it over, inspecting it, regretting she hadn’t tossed it and bought a new one. She’ll never risk calling my bluff. What she will do, I’ll bet, is try to negotiate. So, how much are we willing to accept?’

71

Neither Jo nor Allison was surprised when the phone rang less than twenty minutes later. There was no preamble, Portia jumping straight in. ‘We’ve had a look at our cash flow and here’s the deal. One million. Take it or leave it.’

‘One million? You’re having a laugh. Okay, I’ll leave it.’ Allison hung up. She kept the phone in her hand, looking at it for a few seconds when it rang again almost immediately. Finally, she answered. ‘Stop taking the piss, Portia.’

‘Fine, fine, okay. Two million. It’s all we have. The rest of our money is tied up in property.’