A week later, Vanessa sent me a message.

Can we meet? I have information you'll want.

I met her in a café by the river. Without the red dress, she looked smaller. Tired.

“I've been fired,” she said. “And the company wants the money back. Two hundred and forty thousand. I don't have it.”

“That's between you and the company.”

“I can help you.” She leaned forward. “Daniel has a second bank account. Offshore. He's been moving money into it for a year. I know which bank. I'll give you the details if the company drops its claim against me.”

I stirred my tea.

“Vanessa,” I said, “the auditors found that account on Tuesday.”

She sat back as if I'd slapped her.

“You knew? About everything?”

“I knew about the affair four months ago. I knew about the money three months ago.” I put a ten-pound note on the table. “I've had plenty of time to sit at home and read. Apparently that's all I'm good for.”

“Then why didn't you stop it sooner?”

I stood up and put on my coat.

“Because I wanted him to show everyone exactly who he was,” I said. “And he did.”