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Maria nodded in earnest. ‘Lost his balance and toppled. Mr Fox ran to grab him – we all did – but it was too late.’

‘Did he cry out?’

It was helpful, Valentina realised, that they all miserably shook their heads as one, but Valentina suspected Peter was also in shock at Maria’s claim. She didn’t know what to feel. It got Danjel out of the picture completely, but how had it come to her friend lying for them?

She realised the inspector was looking at her bleeding knees, her bloodstained dress, and looked down at them. She’d almost forgotten her injuries, her mind entirely on Danjel and their fate.

The man waited, a question in his expression.

‘I fell trying to reach my husband,’ she said, frightened at how easily the lie slipped from her mouth, but this was Danjel’s future at stake.

‘Mrs Falzon is not telling the truth, Inspector,’ Peter said, shocking Valentina. Maria turned to look at him, aghast, while Valentina held her breath. He wouldn’t, would he? Valentina felt as though she was going to be sick.

‘What do you mean, Mr Fox?’

‘I mean she is protecting her husband’s name. You should know that she’d pleaded with him to get down several times and at one point he sent her sprawling against the rocks, hence the blood. She doesn’t want people to know this, so they don’t think badly of him. But we all witnessed it.’

Valentina exhaled in relief as Maria nodded her agreement. ‘How did the boy react to seeing his mother hit?’

Valentina felt dizzy. This was it. Danjel would be charged with murder.

‘He did what any child would do and ran to his mother in shock,’ Peter said with just enough exasperation to encourage the inspector to let that line of questioning go. ‘Inspector, we all feared for Mr Falzon’s safety on the wall, but in his stupor, I think he felt invincible. I leaped forward to grab him when he stumbled, but he was a heavy man, and it was precarious as you can see – once unbalanced, it would be hard for anyone, drunk or sober, to recover with nothing to grab for.’

Another policeman stepped up and spoke quietly to Inspector Vella, who listened and nodded slowly. Finally, he snapped his notebook shut and sighed. ‘This is a terrible thing, and I’m sorry for you all. We see no signs of a struggle or anything amiss, so I shall be reporting that a tragic accident occurred today. Mrs Falzon, we should get you to the hospital to have your injuries looked at.’

‘Not necessary,’ Maria said. ‘I was a nurse, remember? I’ll dress her wounds. Is that all, Inspector? Can I take Valentina home to her son now?’

‘You may. We might need to check your statements and final facts, but yes, of course. Would you like one of my men to drive you back?’

‘Yes, please.’

That was it? Valentina wasn’t sure she was hearing right, but suddenly Peter was at her side, taking her arm gently, Maria on the other urging her forward.

‘One more thing, Mrs Falzon.’ They all turned. ‘Did you know we have been investigating your husband’s dealings in Marseille?’

Her mouth opened in alarm.

‘I see the answer in your face, Mrs Falzon. Lawrenz was under scrutiny by the French and Maltese police – I thought you should know.’

‘For what?’ she managed to say, sounding choked.

‘A number of criminal activities,’ he replied. ‘We may need to search your house. I shall sort out the paperwork.’

She found her voice. She would not be the victim here. She had no intention of protecting Lawrenz’s name now that the truth was coming out. If he was a criminal, then let it be known that his activities had nothing to do with his family.

‘Inspector, you can search it now, no paperwork required. I will give you keys to my husband’s bar, to his books, to his warehouse. I have no idea of his dealings. He never discussed business with me, nor let me near the finances. He just gave me money for essentials.’

‘You worked at the bar in town?’

‘Yes. I also clean at the cathedral. When he was away, I was expected to run the bar, but he was usually only away for a week or so. This was different. He said he’d be away for up to a month.’

The inspector nodded. ‘He came back because he was on the run from French police. That’s why his arrival was early and unannounced.’ He signalled to one of his men to escort the women to the vehicle, and Valentina threw a look of worry at Peter when she heard Inspector Vella say to him, ‘Mr Fox, a word, please.’

Peter had once heard a naturalist talk on the radio about a spider who carried their young on their back. Bizarre memory that it was, it returned to him now.

If a mother wolf spider is threatened, explained the naturalist, then her dozens of spiderlings will flee in all directions. That was exactly how his thoughts felt, scattering to the corners of his mind in panic at what had been unfolding. A man had died before Peter’s eyes, plunging to his death.

Had it been murder? No. Surely not given the circumstances.