‘Yes. And I was watching him like a hawk, to make sure that he did,’ Terry Parker’s business partner said bitterly, still determinedly addressing the snowy scene that lay beyond his home. ‘And, of course, part of the deal we worked out was that, from now on, I’d be in sole charge of the books and payments, and so on.’

‘How much did he still have left to pay you back?’ Trudy asked.

‘A little more than half of what he took – or borrowed, as he preferred to call it.’

Money, Trudy thought, that now would not be paid back. Unless … ‘Do you know what happens to his side of the business now he’s gone, Mr Thorpe?’

‘Yes, it comes to me,’ Geoffrey Thorpe said, without a flicker. Either he hadn’t yet registered the significance of that, or he was a very fine actor, Trudy thought, glancing at Clement. Did he really have no idea that this gave him an ideal motive for getting rid of an unreliable, thieving, business partner?

‘Why do you think he “borrowed” the money, sir?’ Trudy asked next.

Geoffrey Thorpe gave a wry laugh and finally turned back from the window, wearily slumping back down into his chair. ‘Oh, that was typical of Terry,’ he said tiredly, running a hand across his face. ‘He was always living beyond his means. He liked to think he was the sort of man who should own and drive fancy sports cars, rather than sell them. You know the type I mean? He always had to buy the best wine and spirits. Order the most expensive meal at a restaurant. Dress in tailored suits rather than buy them off the rack. I have no doubt the money went through his fingers like water. He liked to entertain women too – play the wealthy bachelor.’

‘I see,’ Trudy said, wondering what Millicent Vander would have thought of this description of Terry. Somehow, she didn’t think it would have pleased her. ‘We’re still having trouble tracing his next of kin; we had thought he might have come from Birmingham originally, but—’

‘Birmingham?’ Geoffrey interrupted with a frown. ‘Why Birmingham? I got the impression … what was it now … Something he said to me once. Oh, some offhand remark about … why am I thinking about tiles?’ he suddenly asked, making Trudy blink in surprise.

‘Tiles, sir?’ she echoed blankly.

‘Yes, tiles …’ The other man rubbed a hand more vigorously over his forehead. ‘The curse of a fading memory. I know Terry said something once in passing that made me think he came from … oh, I know, I’ve got it now. Not tiles. The Pantiles!’

Trudy was still no further forward, and it was Clement who came to her rescue. ‘The Pantiles, as in the rather nice shopping district in Tunbridge Wells?’ he asked smoothly.