‘Norma Maguire?’ Switches tripped in Clay’s brain. ‘She’s of interest to me because she employed Francesca Christie. And on the day Francesca Christie suddenly walks out of her employment, she goes missing. Norma tried to play the mother hen over Francesca’s internet dating, and had her fingers in her employee’s online activity on Pebbles On The Beach. She may come up with something that we can use. Let’s put it this way, I’ll be in touch with Norma very soon, no doubt whatsoever.’

‘OK,’ said Cole, turning the pages of Richard Ezra’s address book to the M page and handing it to Clay. ‘Richard listed the business address of Maguire Holdings but he also listed Norma Maguire’s private residence at 73 West Road.’

‘Is that the only double listing relating to one individual?’ asked Clay.

‘No. If you go to the D page you’ll find Brian Doherty’s business address on the commercial end of Allerton Road, a couple of blocks away from Maguire Holdings, and his home address in The Serpentine. It wasn’t unusual for Richard to have double takes of business and private contacts. But I’m flagging up Maguire and Doherty because on the day Francesca Christie went missing, she walked out on Maguire and went in to work for Doherty. Could be something, could be nothing.’

‘Keep that plate spinning, Barney. What’s wrong?’

Clay saw an undertone of sorrow play out on Cole’s face.

‘I saw her yesterday morning, Eve. Francesca Christie.’

‘Yeah?’

‘When I went to talk to Brian Doherty. She was in his office while I waited outside. He’d just given her the job. She looked like she’d just had a massive burden lifted from her. She was like really grateful to him. I didn’t know who she was at the time or where she worked but she couldn’t have been more thankful to him. I can only conclude one thing. She must have been as miserable as sin working at Maguire Holdings.’

Clay looked at Norma Maguire’s home address, at Richard Ezra’s elegant handwriting, and felt the sadness of his presumed suicide and his wife’s violent death.

‘Up close and personal, Francesca Christie’s a really lovely-looking young woman. I could tell she was a really decent sort,’ said Cole. ‘I’d go as far as to say, she’s gorgeous. I don’t know why on earth she needed to use internet dating sites.’

‘Barney, the way we see ourselves isn’t always the way others view us. Sometimes, some people love themselves for no good reason. Sometimes, some people undervalue who and what they are. I bet when we sift through all this, we’ll find Francesca was in the latter category. She must’ve had her own good reasons for internet dating.’

Clay handed Richard Ezra’s address book back to Cole.