‘You’re asking how I am? You don’t speak to me for six months and you call me up to say hello now, you want something?’

Kelly sighed. Her chances of changing Nikki’s attitude were about as strong as Brexit going smoothly through parliament. She slammed the oven door and opened the fridge, looking for salad, with her phone under her chin.

‘Nikki, you haven’t called me or made an effort, either. It’s not my job to chase you. You don’t even like me, let’s be honest here. But I do think about you.’

‘Well, thank you, Your Highness.’

‘All right, let’s cut the bullshit. Carry Tomlin. Did she interview you for that piece in the paper about the police being crap?’

‘Why?’

‘You must have heard that she was murdered?’

‘Of course, it’s all anyone is talking about. If you’re calling me, it means you haven’t caught the bastard yet. Reminds me of something.’

‘I’m sorry I didn’t find The Teacher sooner. I tried my best. How are the girls?’

Nikki sighed. Kelly thought the change in tone might be a breakthrough.

‘Charlie is driving now. Ria’s tenth birthday is soon. She wants to go bowling. You can come if you want. She misses Mum.’

‘I can understand that. I miss her too. I’d love to come to her birthday, text me the details. I’ll be there.’

‘The journalist found me; I didn’t go to her. It was because of The Teacher. I didn’t want to talk to her at first but she’s persistent. She was persistent. Like you. Massive balls.’

‘I don’t know about that.’

‘She said she’d be happy to meet anywhere I wanted to, and that she normally went wherever her sources wanted.’

‘And did she mention any others she had coming up?’

‘I asked her about the story on all the voodoo crap and she got very excited, saying there were more articles planned and she had plenty of people willing to talk.’

‘What was she like?’

‘Flaky. Hard-nosed and self-centred. Again, a bit like you.’

‘Thanks. Did she mention Mary Hales’ death?’

‘Yes. She said she reckoned she could find out who did it faster than the police could.’

‘That’s what I thought.’

‘Do you think you know who did it?’

‘Not yet, but the investigation is moving along well. Have you ever heard of someone called Kirk Junker or Harry O’Connor?’