TWO weeks before the wedding, Vitale arranged to pick Zara up for lunch. Not having seen him at all in the preceding week owing to his demanding schedule, she was surprised by the invitation.

　　‘I thought you were always too busy during the day for this sort of thing,’ Zara reminded him of his own words on the phone several nights earlier as she climbed into his car.

　　‘As a rule I am but this is rather different. We’re going to see your father,’ Vitale revealed grimly.

　　Her head swivelled, eyes bright with dismay and curiosity in her disconcerted face. ‘Why the hell are we meeting up with Dad?’

　　‘It’s...