‘I wish I had known she wasn’t coping, but she never invited me into her home. If she had, I would have helped her. I could have fetched her groceries – my son sorts out the supermarket delivery for me and he wouldn’t have minded at all if I’d added in a few extras for Constance.’ She clasped her hands together in anguish. ‘Ooh, here comes Mr Conway, maybe he can shed some light on what happened to poor Constance.’

They all turned to see a dapper gentleman exiting a silver Mercedes that had just pulled up behind them; he was wearing a smart suit with a vibrant pink handkerchief popping out of a top pocket. ‘He lives in Connie’s flat now,’ Lady Bee informed them. ‘But don’t mention what I said about her,’ she quickly mouthed. ‘It might upset him to know she was living so frugally, in what is his home, now.’

Grace and Jamie quickly nodded in unison as they were introduced to Mr Conway and Lady Bee explained, bringing him up to speed.

‘I’m afraid I have little more to tell you,’ he nodded, ‘other than the occasional items of post arriving for your dear deceased friend … Of course, if there’s a return address then I always write the obligatory “Not known at this address”, etc. on the envelope before popping it back into a letter box.’

‘Ah, I see,’ Grace interjected, remembering the flamboyant handwriting on the payment reminder letters that Larry had received back in the office. ‘Do you mind me asking if there is still very much post for Mrs Donato? Any handwritten envelopes that could be a birthday card, or Christmas card, from a family member or friend perhaps? Anything you can tell us would be very much appreciated. You see, I work at Cohen’s Convenient Storage Company – it’s past the heath and down the hill in Greenwich – and we have some items belonging to her that really need to be passed on to a next of kin.’

‘Ah, I see.’ Mr Conway cupped his chin in his hands as if momentarily deep in thought. ‘Hmm, not that I recall. Just brown envelopes – the type that usually contain bills. I don’t think she had any next of kin as I bought the flat from solicitors acting on behalf of the Crown.’

‘The Crown?’ Grace asked.

‘Yes, as in the State. There’s a government legal department called Bona Vacantia and they deal with the estates of people who die without leaving a will or having any known living relatives.’

‘Oh dear.’ Lady Bee stepped in and looked at Grace. ‘Perhaps you could get in touch with the special department, my dear, and then you could let them know about the items you have in your storage facility.’