Even if, by some miracle, he’d accepted my refusal, I was sure he’d have slipped further into whatever depression was gripping him. I had to give him something to fight for, and if that was me, so be it. At least I’d given him hope - a chance to sort himself out - and, maybe, that was all he needed.

That thought brought back Ronnie’s words of the previous morning; Sometimes you have to take a chance on the people you love. It was only when I’d been in Leo’s arms that it had hit me. Rightly or wrongly, danger or no, I was irrevocably in love with my Filth Monger. But, with everything that had happened – the police, the murder accusations, the desire to tie me up - was I ready to take a chance on him?

I just didn’t know.

    Nine

Him

‘I’m being blackmailed,’ Felicity sobbed. ‘I can’t tell Father, and Hugh won’t want to know me if it all comes out.’

‘All right,’ I said, even though it was anything but. ‘Calm down, sweetheart. I’ll fix it. I’ll come over to yours as soon as I finish the meeting I’m in. Okay?’

‘O…kay,’ she said, her voice shaking with misery. ‘But hurry, please.’

I went back to the living room, everything slotting into place in my mind. I’d known there was something that didn’t add up. To be honest, I’d even known what it was – I just hadn’t wanted to believe it.

I didn’t speak at first, but walked over to the French windows. I could just make out the Thames in the distance, not more than a slim silver ribbon weaving in and out of the buildings. By rights, I shouldn’t have been able to see it at all, but the hotel was tall – higher than anything around it – and it offered a glimpse of all sorts of secrets – inside and out. I remembered that night, chasing Rick; the subsequent drop into the water, and I wondered how it’d come to this.

‘I always thought it was strange,’ I remarked finally, turning to Alex. ‘That Rick would stab you. I mean, given your history.’

I watched as the colour drained out of his face, pausing again for effect. ‘Not bothering you now, is it? The wound, I mean.’

Alex blew out his cheeks. ‘Well, no, Sir. It’s a lot better, in fact.’

‘Mind if we see it?’ I said, casually, as if it were of no real importance. ‘I’m sure we’d all be interested.’

I looked around at the others. They looked bemused, but shrugged and nodded.

‘Certainly, Sir.’ He stood up and untucked his shirt. Lifting it up, he turned to give us all a view of the gauze covering his side, strapped into place with criss-crossed layers of surgical tape.

‘Take off the dressing, Alex,’ I said, unmoved by this display.

‘I’m sorry Sir?’

‘Take it off.’ I knew I was backing him into a corner, and could already see more sweat standing out on his brow. ‘I’d be interested to see how quickly such an injury would heal.’

‘Well, I don’t know, Sir,’ he blustered, clearly trying to prolong the inevitable. ‘Risk of infection…you know.’

Ronnie stood up. ‘Is this really necessary, my love? I mean, this is Alex we’re talking about.’

‘Sit down, Ronnie.’ I moved around to the door of the living room. ‘Yes, this is Alex. The Alex who got off the train when he was supposed to stay on it, and insisted on being in front for the chase. The Alex who, when it seemed we weren’t going to lose Rick, suddenly claimed he had the tape and, without waiting for orders, jumped him.’

Ronnie gasped and Matt let out a groan of disbelief. Only Lionel didn’t react. He’d watched the whole exchange in silence, and only turned to Alex, eyebrows raised.

‘I did it to get the tape back.’ Alex looked aghast. ‘For you, Sir. I got stabbed.’

‘Did you, though?’ I said. ‘It’s just a polite enquiry. Only, you see, that brief interlude alerted Rick of our presence and gave him time to get away. Or was that just coincidence?’

‘Show him the wound,’ said Matt. It was evident he didn’t want to believe it. ‘Alex, show him.’

Alex didn’t move for a moment, then made a sudden break for the door. I closed it firmly, and stood in front of it.

‘There’s no need to be dramatic,’ I said. ‘Where would you go, anyway? I get it, I do, really. He was like a son to you. That was what’d been bugging me throughout this whole farce.’

Alex didn’t move for a moment. When he did, it was to go back to the others and sink down in an armchair. ‘I told him not to do it,’ he said, his head in his hands. ‘I tried to stop him, but he wouldn’t listen. I couldn’t let you find out where he was hiding.’

‘He’s at yours, Alex, isn’t he?’

He didn’t speak, only nodded. Matt looked distraught by now, and Ronnie gasped again. ‘I went round there – took you food, when you came out of hospital.’

‘He was never in hospital,’ I said. I was getting no joy out of this, but at least the truth was out. ‘At least, he was never admitted.’

Lionel got up, shaking his head in disbelief, and went out onto the balcony. I shot Alex a look of disappointment and went to join him. He was already over the far side of the balcony, and looked to be on his phone, but I had to get away from Alex for a few minutes. I was so angry. As I was about to go out through the French windows, Alex spoke again. ‘Sir?’

I turned back. ‘Yes?’

‘I’ve got the tape.’ He fished in his pocket and pulled out the source of all the trouble. ‘I got it from him when he was asleep. Replaced it. He doesn’t know.’

He held it out to me and I took it, heavy with relief.

‘Good work, Alex,’ I said, with a sigh. ‘Phone, please, as well.’

‘He says he didn’t kill the girl.’ He held out his phone.

‘Were you with him?’

Alex shook his head. ‘He could’ve done, I suppose,’ he said, reluctantly. ‘He had more reason than anyone.’

I tucked the phone in my pocket, along with the tape, and sat down on the arm of the sofa. Ronnie patted my leg. ‘Don’t be too hard on him,’ she murmured. ‘He’s not the first person to suffer divided loyalties.’

I put my hand over hers. ‘I know,’ I said. ‘If I had a child, or someone as close as one, I’d be the same. I wouldn’t give them up, not for anything.’

‘Me neither.’ Her face bunched up, suddenly, in misery and I squeezed her hand.

‘I’m sorry,’ I said. ‘I wasn’t thinking.’

She gave a brave smile and, after that, we all sat in silence for a while. The whole episode had been draining beyond measure, and I think we all needed to absorb the betrayal we’d suffered. Alex had his head in his hands again, and didn’t look at anyone.

Eventually, I got up. ‘I have to go out,’ I said. ‘But first I need to call the police.’

Alex looked up at me in alarm.

‘I have to,’ I said. ‘It’s not about the tape anymore, Alex. I can deal with that. Murder is something else.’

I got out the card my favourite police officer had presented me with on my most recent departure, and dialled her number.

At that moment, there was a knock at the front door. Ronnie went to answer it.

‘Hello, is that…’ I tailed off, as I saw the person walking through the door.

‘Were you looking for me?’ said the voice into my ear, as the speaker stood looking at me, her eyebrow raised, as usual, sarcastically.

‘Yes,’ I said, on the back foot as usual. It was becoming my habitual stance, and I didn’t like it. ‘How…?’

Lionel stepped in from the balcony. ‘I’m sorry, my boy. Your loyalty does you credit, but it’s in your best interests to be open with them. You’ve done nothing wrong.’

‘Would you care to accompany us to the station?’

‘Not really,’ I said. ‘I have things to do.’

‘You always have things to do, Mr Fforbes,’ she said, coming up close until her face was nearly touching mine. She walked around me, invading my personal space with every step. ‘I’ve never met someone so busybusybusy.’

I heaved a sigh of disgust. ‘Can I at least make a phone call before I go?’