His phone went in his pocket and he got angry at the name on the screen. Answered it and looked at the upstairs windows. It was obviously his wife, it was clear what was happening.

His body language was furious as he spoke, the wronged man. His voice was soft as he pointed and gestured, shaking his head, explaining his story. But it was clear he was getting nowhere.

After a few minutes, an upstairs window opened, and Emilia 188heaved a holdall out, which thumped on the ground by Peter’s feet.

‘Emilia, this is crazy,’ he said, waving his phone at her.

‘Don’t ever speak to me again,’ Emilia said. ‘Except through my solicitor.’

Her voice was calm, stony, her arms folded.

‘Just let me in and we can talk,’ Peter said. ‘It’s all a misunderstanding, the police let me go.’

‘I don’t care about the police,’ Emilia said. ‘I have to protect our daughter.’

She closed the window and stepped out of sight.

‘Em,’ Peter shouted. ‘Fuck’s sake, Em.’

He tried calling her, no answer. He went back and banged the front door some more, but ran out of steam.

Jenny got out of the van and walked to the front gate, up the path.

‘How did it go at the police station?’

Peter turned and frowned. ‘Who the hell are you?’

‘Jenny Skelf.’

He stared at her while he put it together. ‘Hannah’s mum? What do you want?’

‘I’m investigating Melanie Cheng’s death.’

He looked confused by that, but let it slide. ‘Your bitch of a daughter got me into this mess.’

‘You got yourself into it.’

He squared up to her. He was tall but not heavy-set, but any guy could be threatening given enough anger.

‘I haven’t done anything wrong,’ Peter said.

‘You were sleeping with Mel. You got her pregnant. She was going to tell your wife so you strangled her.’

‘How fucking dare you,’ Peter said, gripping his phone like a weapon. ‘The police let me go.’

Jenny nodded at the holdall on the ground between them. ‘I think your wife needs a little more convincing.’189

Peter pressed his lips together. ‘I am going to sue your daughter once this is all over. She broke into my office.’

‘And found valuable evidence.’

‘And I’m going to sue the university too.’

‘Why?’

Peter frowned, looked back at the house. ‘Those bastards have suspended me without pay.’

‘So you admitted seeing Mel?’

Peter took a step forwards. ‘I told the police the truth. We had a thing, yes, but I didn’t know she was pregnant, and I certainly didn’t kill her.’

‘What kind of thing?’

Peter didn’t speak.

‘I can see why you would go for her,’ Jenny said. ‘But, no offence, what did she see in you?’

Peter chewed on his lip. ‘She said she liked older men. I didn’t ask too many questions.’