Xander scratched at an imaginary mark on the bar. ‘I never saw her yesterday. She was supposed to be in afternoon classes, so I messaged her but didn’t hear back. She was round at mine the 48night before, but she didn’t stay over because she wanted to be in her own bed in the morning, get ready to meet her folks.’

That tied in with Mel’s phone, but Xander knew Hannah had it, so it would be stupid to say anything different.

‘How did she seem?’

‘The usual.’

‘What did you do?’

‘We ate pasta. Mel made it.’

‘She cooks at your place?’

‘She likes to cook, you know that.’

‘So you let her.’

‘Why not?’

‘Was anyone else there?’

Xander shifted his weight and shook his head. ‘The guys were in the pub watching the Champions League.’

Hannah wondered if she should be taking notes on her phone or recording the conversation. Maybe get one of those notepads that TV cops use, lick the end of the pencil before taking down particulars.

‘The guys?’ she said.

‘My flatmates.’

Mel had mentioned Xander’s flatmates, and reading between the lines they didn’t much like her for taking away their buddy.

‘Names?’ Hannah said, getting her phone out of her pocket.

‘Really?’

‘Don’t you want to find her?’

‘This has nothing to do with them.’

‘How do you know?’ Hannah sipped her whisky, felt the spirit of Jim give her strength. ‘How do you know what’s important and what isn’t? Anything could be crucial, you don’t know.’

Xander looked around the bar for a customer to come and save him. ‘Darren and Faisal.’

She thumbed the names into her phone. ‘Surnames?’

‘Is this really necessary?’49

She looked at him, expectant.

He sighed. ‘Grant and McNish.’

‘Do they get on with Mel?’

‘Sure, she’s great.’

‘Did they see her at your place at all?’

Xander shoved his hands in his pockets. He had a Fitbit knock-off on his wrist and Hannah wondered if it was trackable. Not that she knew how to do that. He shook his head. ‘They stayed out after lectures and went straight to the pub.’

‘And after pasta?’

He looked sheepish. ‘You know.’

‘You had sex.’

His cheeks flushed. ‘Christ.’

‘Then what?’

‘Watched a movie on my laptop.’

‘What movie?’

‘Does it matter?’

‘It all matters.’

‘Annihilation. Sci-fi on Netflix.’

‘So what time did she leave?’

‘About midnight, I walked her home.’

That tallied with what Hannah remembered, Mel coming in about quarter past. She finished her drink and placed the glass on the bar.

‘Can I see your phone?’

‘What for?’

Hannah shrugged. ‘Just to check a few things.’

Xander picked up her glass and passed it between his hands.

‘No,’ he said. ‘It’s an invasion of privacy.’

‘Only if you’ve got something to hide.’

She wanted to provoke him, make him say something that gave him away.