‘I don’t think so,’ Karin said. She glanced at the wall clock. It was half past three. ‘But she might be able to tell you more. She’ll be home in about half an hour, depending on the traffic.’

Karin had mentioned that Beth was at work and Claudia had wrongly assumed she would be home much later. ‘I’m afraid I can’t stay long,’ she replied, thankful that she hadn’t taken up the offer of a drink. She would have to keep the visit short. ‘I only came to give you this.’

Claudia took from her bag a smoky brown bottle with a pretty label. ‘My aromatherapist, Maggie, made this up for me to reduce my anxiety. It’s a massage oil, and I thought it might help you too.’

‘Oh, I couldn’t take it.’

‘I have lots more at home. Please, I insist,’ Claudia said. ‘You could try it now, if you like? Just rub a few drops on your neck and chest. The smell is incredibly calming.’

Karin looked uncomfortable, but if she thought it was an odd request, she was too polite to refuse. She went to undo the cap.

‘You might want to take your necklace off first. Apparently it can tarnish silver.’

‘Oh, OK,’ Karin said, reaching behind her neck to undo the clasp. ‘It was a present from Declan. I’d hate for it to get damaged.’

‘Here, let me take it. I’ll put it somewhere safe.’

‘Sure, thanks,’ replied Karin as the chain was snatched from her hand. ‘Would you mind putting it over there on the shelf by the kitchen? There’s a little bowl.’

No longer interested in Karin and her massage oil, Claudia wandered over to the shelf. With the necklace cupped in her hand, she grasped one end of the chain between her thumb and forefinger and lifted it up. The silver pendant slipped off and remained secreted in her palm. ‘Sorry, where do you want me to put it?’ she called out. She wanted Karin to witness her setting down the necklace.

Karin rubbed scented oil across her throat as she joined Claudia. ‘There,’ she said, pointing to a bowl shaped like a lemon.

As Claudia dropped the chain amongst other bits of jewellery, she spotted a set of keys on the shelf next to it. Karin noticed her gaze falter.

‘Do you recognise the key ring?’

Claudia shoved her hand into her trouser pocket, depositing the stolen pendant. ‘Should I?’

‘I had a torch like the one you gave to that little girl. Except I lost mine after the fire. All that was left was the screw cap on the end, so I squashed it into a disc.’

The smell of lavender and chamomile from the massage oils did nothing to relax Claudia. ‘Do you remember using it that night?’