The Loyal Servant by Eva Hudson

arrested.’
    Caroline leaned against the desk. ‘There must be some mistake.’
    ‘No mistake, Mrs Barber – she’ll be released shortly, but someone needs to collect her.’
    ‘Have you tried my husband? Only I’m at work at the moment and—’ She looked at her watch.
    ‘Mrs Henderson has asked for you.’
    ‘What happened?’
    ‘We’ll explain when you get here.’
    The line went dead. Caroline looked blankly at the phone.
    ‘I couldn’t help overhearing,’ Tracy said. ‘Is your mum all right? Can I do anything?’
    It took a moment for Caroline to respond. ‘What? No, no I don’t think so.’ She picked up her bag and looped the strap over her shoulder.
    ‘What you were saying before…’
    Tracy frowned, and for a moment looked just like her baby.
    ‘Big news, you said.’ Caroline powered down her computer and monitor.
    ‘I was hoping they’d bring Stella back… I still miss her, you know. She was the best secretary of state we ever had.’ Tracy stared mournfully into the middle distance.
    ‘We all miss her, Tracy… Can you just tell me what’s happened?’
    ‘Fancy foisting that waste of space from the cabinet office on us.’
    ‘I don’t understand… how is that big news? King’s replacement was announced yesterday.’
    ‘He’s just trying to prove how popular he his. Making a big gesture. He’s fighting a losing battle if you ask me.’
    ‘Who are you talking about?’
    ‘King – that’s why everyone’s glued to the box. We’ve got a personal interest, haven’t we? He was here for nearly two years.’
    ‘You’re going to have to spell it out for me.’
    ‘It’s an unprecedented move, apparently. That’s what the reporter on the telly said. He wants to get a mandate from the people. Something like that.’
    ‘Please Tracy – can you just tell me what’s happened?’
    The baby started to mewl, the mewl started to build. ‘I need to get this little one his next feed.’ She bounced the baby up and down, patted a hand on his back.
    Caroline grabbed Tracy’s arm. ‘Please Tracy.’
    ‘All right!’
    Caroline let go. The bouncing finally ceased.
    ‘William King has just called a general election.’

11
    The congregation stood for the final hymn and Caroline slipped out of the pew at the rear of the art deco chapel in Chiswick Cemetery. She edged quietly towards the heavy double doors as the assembled dignitaries did their best to sing the first few bars of I Vow to Thee My Country.
    She’d arrived late at Martin Fox’s service of remembrance, just in time to hear the final words of Rachael Oakley’s eulogy. From the little she did catch, it sounded to Caroline as if the former prime minister’s wife hadn’t even met Martin Fox. After two hymns and an awkward psalm reading from Downing Street’s new chief of staff, Caroline was ready to believe she was the only one in attendance who knew anything about the schools minister at all.
    In the past week, while the media had become increasingly distracted by the shock general election, the inquest into Martin Fox’s death was quietly opened and adjourned. An interim death certificate was issued by the coroner to allow the funeral to take place, and during a low-key press conference, Detective Inspector Leary announced the toxicology results wouldn’t be returned for another three weeks.
    In seven days Caroline had failed to track down either PC Mills or Martin Fox’s PA, and wasn’t sure where else to turn. The press had accepted the official line that the minister had committed suicide, and even the conspiracy websites seemed to have lost interest. She felt so alone in her conviction that Martin Fox’s death was suspicious, that she didn’t feel she could discuss it with anyone.
    A plain-clothes policeman nodded as she approached and opened one of the large wooden doors just enough for her to squeeze through. She stepped into blinding sunlight and held up a hand to shield her eyes. As she adjusted to the glare,