A woman’s voice had left a message asking me to call back. It was only when I got through to her that she identified herself as a police officer. A Detective Sergeant Unwin. Sounded bossy, which I guess is an occupational hazard – or indeed an essential qualification. She asked first whether I had heard the news of Ingrid Richards’ death. I assured her I had.

‘We’ve spoken to the deceased’s daughter and she said that her mother had engaged your professional services.’

‘That’s not strictly accurate, Sergeant,’ I said. ‘I only had the one exploratory meeting with her. It was Alexandra herself, not Ingrid, who contacted me. She was worried about her mother’s situation.’

‘What situation would that be, Mrs Curtis?’

‘The safety of her lifestyle.’

‘Sorry? What is it exactly that you do, Mrs Curtis?’

‘I declutter. I help people organize their possessions when they get out of hand.’

‘Oh. Is that a job?’

‘Yes, it is,’ I said, sharply. I had heard the question too often not to be defensive about what I do.

‘And you had taken on that job for the deceased?’

‘I hadn’t, no. As I said, my meeting with her on Monday was just a preliminary discussion, to see whether Alexandra was right, whether her mother did actually need my services.’

‘What conclusion did you reach?’

‘That Ingrid Richards did not need my services.’

‘Thank you, Mrs Curtis. Obviously, the reason I’m asking you these questions is because we are investigating the cause of Ingrid Richards’ death. So, are you telling me that her flat in Brunswick Square was not a fire hazard?’

‘I’m not telling you that, Sergeant, no. I think, for someone less organized than Ingrid Richards, it could have been a fire hazard.’

‘Surely something’s a fire hazard or it isn’t?’ There was the bossy tone again. ‘As Alexandra Richards described it to us, her mother’s flat was full of old newspapers and magazines. Is that not true?’

‘It is true, but—’

‘Alexandra Richards also said that her mother was virtually a chain-smoker and a very heavy drinker. Are those facts not true either?’

‘No, they’re true. And, as I said, someone else in those circumstances might have been a danger to herself and others. But I got the impression that Ingrid Richards was very much in control of the way she lived.’

‘What gave you that impression, Mrs Curtis?’

‘She told me she was.’

That made Detective Sergeant Unwin chuckle. ‘Yeah, but old people are like that. They never realize when they’re losing it. Take my mother-in-law and her driving. She’s nearly ninety, she thinks she’s still safe on the roads, but she’s a bloody liability.’

This was more information than I required. I had no interest in the woman’s mother-in-law.

‘Listen, Mrs Curtis,’ she went on before I could say anything, ‘Alexandra Richards suggested we should contact you because you had recently inspected the Brunswick Square property …’

‘Hardly “inspected”. I just went for a chat with—’

‘But, in the course of your work, Mrs Curtis, you must see the homes of many people with hoarding problems.’