‘Well at least that’s something. Satnam tells me she’s a very good mathematician. We are expecting her to help Satnam with her coursework.’

They haven’t spoken since.

Honor steps out of the lift at the ground floor and makes her way back to the entrance hall. The smell of food from the café is a reminder that she hasn’t eaten since the very early morning breakfast with Nevis what seems like days ago now. Checking her watch, she sees that there is still time on her ticket in the hospital car park. Might as well be now.

At the food counter she orders a baked potato from a small, round woman with her hair in a hygiene net.

‘Long day?’ asks the woman.

She goes over to the same table where she found Nevis and Sondra sitting more than twelve hours ago. The potato is microwaved not baked, though not bad. Tomorrow is her appointment with Dr Keane at the university. She will raise the question of whether Satnam is allowed visits from friends with Dr Keane. Maybe she has some sway.

She dials the Manns’ home number. Narinder answers the call. ‘Hello, Honor. I thought you would phone me.’

‘Yes. I’m so sorry about Satnam.’

‘A terrible accident.’

Accident. That word again. There were some people who believed what happened to Zoe was an accident. Zoe’s own parents. In the face of all the evidence that a crime had been committed and the perpetrator remained at large, Dan and Judy continued to insist that Zoe’s death was a simple tragedy. As if any tragedy could be simple.

‘How are you and Bikram holding up? You’ve both been in my thoughts.’

‘We are praying. Prayers are bigger than thoughts.’

‘Yes.’ She pauses. ‘I’m at the infirmary. I was hoping to see Satnam.’

Silence. A few excruciating moments pass before Narinder says, ‘We don’t want anyone to see her. Only family.’

‘I understand, but…’

‘What do you understand?’

‘Nevis and I would really love to see Satnam. It might bring her a little comfort.’

‘Daughters are supposed to be the comfort. Where is our comfort? The boy we found for her has gone away. He was an extremely suitable boy from a very good family. Now they don’t want anything to do with us.’

‘That’s unfortunate.’

‘You understand nothing of any of this. When our daughter is better we will never speak of her accident. Or of you or your daughter. I want you to go away now and not bother me again.’