It did however, further strengthen Kelly’s belief that Fred was innocent of any wrong-doing. Usually, by this point, when formal interview is mentioned, witnesses get nervous. Not so with Fred. Added to which, she had the feeling she always got when she was in his company: it was like a warm blanket. She felt the same with Ted. Maybe all the stuff she’d been reading about was getting to her, but she thought it might be to do with aura, the energy field surrounding every human. From what she’d gathered, Kirk Junker had a rotten one, and she wondered if she’d ever get to meet him, and under what circumstances. Amy Richmond’s was different again. The master of disguise, the killer had worked in hospitals all her adult life and not been suspected. Even Kelly hadn’t felt any badness in her presence, until she realised who she really was. It’s why Nikki had trustingly got into her car.

After the morning brief, and the depressing reality of few extra additions to HOLMES overnight, Kelly went downstairs to the interview rooms, taking DS Will Phillips with her. She found his Ralph Lauren aftershave a familiar source of reassurance. Kelly asked after his wife, and if the long hours just now were being handled well at home. It was something that she kept her eye on at all times. A burned-out officer was no use to her and they weren’t machines. She heard on the radio that the Home Secretary had said that the Met should divert resources to tackle knife crime and she’d almost spat her coffee. What resources?

Kelly briefed Will on how the interview would shape up. They wanted to know more about Fred’s encounters with Kirk Junker or Harry O’Connor and if there were any other aliases. So far, the O’Reillys and their friends had drip fed the investigation just what had been asked of them; they hadn’t been forthcoming with any information on a proactive basis. Except Jock Harris, who still wasn’t answering his phone.

‘Good morning, Mr O’Reilly.’ She kept it formal for the purposes of the recording. Fred confirmed his date of birth and other particulars.

‘Before we start, I’m struggling to locate Mr Harris. Do you have any other contact details for him?’

‘No, I haven’t been able to get him either,’ Fred said. ‘He was supposed to stay for supper last night, but he said he had to get something done.’

‘Did he elaborate?’

‘No, and I didn’t pry. It’s not like him to not return my calls, I thought you might have him.’ Fred frowned and Kelly looked at him closer.

‘Really? Why would we have him?’

‘Well, you seem to think that we’re all hiding something, instead of getting out there and finding Mary’s killer, you seem to think that I – or one of my friends – have all the answers.’