Chapter Twenty
Rafferty had checked that Carlton’s work van had gone from the drive, before he rang the bell. He might as well be discreet at this stage; for all he knew, Mrs Carlton had never told her husband that Sebastian wasn’t his.
Mrs Carlton took a long time to open the door. He was just about to ring again, when the door slowly opened.
Mrs Carlton was still in her dressing gown, although it was gone two in the afternoon. ‘Inspector? What do you—?’
‘May we come in?’
Without saying a word, she opened the door just enough to admit them. They followed her to the kitchen. The bright sunshine illuminated her face; she looked wrecked: eyes bloodshot, face pale, hands trembling. As if conscious of the latter, she sat down, and put her hands in her lap. ‘What?’ She tried again, cleared
