‘Take a moment. No hurry. It’s all been a shock, I’m sure.’

‘But you do know that Prue has been living here for the last few weeks, not me? You’ll find her fingerprints everywhere, I’m sure, and those of any visitors she might have had in here. And the place has a lot of her things still in it too. She might well have moved some of my belongings out of the way, tucked them out of sight, maybe.’

‘Out of sight? Why would she do that?’

‘I only meant if anything wasn’t to her taste. The picture of my son staring at her from next to the bed, for instance. A bit off-putting when you don’t know the person. And my award too. I can see it’s not in its place on the mantelpiece.’

‘And what award would that be?

‘Just something I won years ago, as a young actress. I’m proud of it but I have to admit it is rather ugly. Big and heavy. Made to look like gold, but not, of course. Brass, I think. Maybe she didn’t like it looking at her. It had a habit of doing that, or it could feel that way. The face on it, the eyes seeming to follow you round the room, you know …’

‘Could you take a look for it, please? While you’re checking the cupboards and their contents. Only we don’t yet have a weapon, and your award is starting to sound very much like a possibility.’

***

‘No, it’s not here.’ Madi had turned the flat upside down but there was no sign of the award. Or of her locket. Two things that had meant so much to her, for their sentimental value rather than any monetary one, and both gone.

‘Thank you, Miss Cardew. I think we have all we need here for the moment. We’ll be off and leave you in peace. Oh, and I’ve heard that Miss Harris has just woken up, you’ll be pleased to know. I’m going to see her now, so hopefully we’ll have more information soon, assuming her memory is intact. Don’t hesitate to call me if you find anything or think of anything that might help us with our investigation.’

‘I will. Just one question though … Do you think it was a targeted attack? As so little was taken, it can’t have been a random burglary, can it? There’s no mess, no drawers pulled out, no vandalism. And no sign of a break-in. Either she let them in or someone must have had a key. Was the attacker after Prue, do you think? Or could they have been looking for me?’

He couldn’t answer that. Nobody could. But it was a worrying thought, that she – or poor, sweet Prue – might have enemies, someone who wished them harm.

Madi watched as the tape was removed and the flat reverted from a crime scene to a home. She closed the door after them all and sat down, finally allowing herself to close her eyes and breathe. Her thoughts were taking her to places she really did not want to go. It was all too much to take in. That she had been living here, right above Jeremy’s family, without knowing who they were.