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someone would be contacting the transport police.’
    Sadler nodded. ‘It’s been done,’ he said. ‘They’re still checking the CCTV tapes. Naturally, we’ll let you know when they come back to us.’ He cleared his throat. ‘I’ve looked through the information you gave the response team yesterday, but I’m afraid it might be necessary to go over the same ground …’
    ‘That’s fine,’ Miles assured him.
    Sadler looked at him with cautious eyes. There was something about this man that was already getting under his skin, but for the moment he couldn’t put his finger on what – apart from all the privilege and dosh, not to mention how well connected he was, a fact that rarely made Sadler’s life easy. ‘You say it’s been three weeks since you last saw your wife?’ he said matter-of-factly.
    ‘That’s right.’
    Miles’s expression, DC Joy was thinking, had become not so much defensive as guarded, though not in a hostile way, more sort of … well, like he didn’t really want to be going through this, and who could blame him for that?
    ‘And there’s been no contact between you during that time?’ Sadler prompted.
    ‘None at all. As I told the officers yesterday, I dropped her at the station in the morning, just after ten, then after calling in at the supermarket I came straight home. As far as I knew, she was catching the train to London.’
    ‘But we don’t know whether she did or not?’
    ‘At the time I assumed she did, but since I didn’t go into the station with her, I’m afraid I can’t confirm it.’
    ‘You’ve been in touch with her friends and family …’
    ‘Of course. She has a sister who lives in the States, though she’s in Edinburgh with her husband at the moment. She hasn’t heard from her.’
    ‘Friends? Locally and in London?’
    ‘She didn’t have a wide circle – in fact it would probably be more accurate to say she had more acquaintances than friends. I’ve tried a few, but no one’s heard from her recently.’ His eyes went to DC Joy as she started to make notes.
    ‘Was anyone at your house in London three weeks ago?’ Sadler asked. ‘Someone who could confirm whether or not she showed up?’
    ‘I’m afraid not. My daughter was at school, and I was here.’
    ‘But you’ve been to London since, to check for yourself whether or not she arrived?’
    ‘Of course. There’s no sign of her having done so, but the cleaner’s been in since, so it’s hard to be certain.’
    Sadler chewed thoughtfully on his lip, and for a while they let the clock and fire fill the silence. ‘We’ll get in touch with the Kensington and Chelsea police,’ he said finally. ‘They’ll need access to the house. Is there anyone close by with a key?’
    ‘The cleaner. But I’m going myself the day after tomorrow, if it can wait that long.’
    Appearing to note the lack of urgency Sadler nodded slowly.
    Miles glanced at DC Joy and smiled again. Starting, she smiled back, and blushed as she returned to her notebook.
    ‘You told the response team,’ Sadler said, ‘that it’s not unusual for your wife to go off for a few days without saying where she’s going.’
    ‘She does, from time to time. She feels the need, occasionally, to get away from me, and the house …’
    ‘From you?’
    Miles appeared faintly amused. ‘Does that make us unusual?’ he asked.
    Instead of answering Sadler said, ‘Where does she go?’
    ‘She used to have an apartment in London, but she sold it about a year ago, so I’m not sure where she goes now. Probably to a hotel. She’s never said and I don’t ask, because she doesn’t want me to know.’
    Seeming to find this both odd and intriguing, Sadler said, ‘Why wouldn’t she want you to know?’
    ‘I think it makes her feel powerful to make me worry.’
    ‘And do you worry?’
    ‘Of course.’
    Sadler was watching him closely. ‘Are you sure she was intending to go to London when you took her to the station?’ he asked.
    ‘It’s