‘That’s OK,’ he said. ‘I just feel bad about being the one who was supposed to contact you with the time change. What I should’ve done is radio the driver, but I didn’t think of it.’

‘Never mind, Gary, what’s done is done.’

He said goodnight and left the incident room, which was now ominously quiet. The noticeboard would be filling up tomorrow with all the new information from the visit to Justine’s.

Jane couldn’t resist going to the property lock-up and taking out Charles Foxley’s diary. Frustrated that she wouldn’t get the lab results until tomorrow, she decided not to waste any more time, and put in a call to the agency to find out Julia Summers’ home phone number.

Rita answered the phone. ‘She doesn’t work here no more, I’m afraid. She’s now working for her father. I’ve got an office number there and also a home number if you want it.’ There was a pause. ‘Look, I’m sorry about the mix-up earlier. I told the policeman who called that you and the other detective had left but I didn’t see he’d come back.’

Jane told Rita not to worry, then called Julia Summers’ father’s office. She was told, rather curtly, that Julia was only working a few hours a day in the postal section and was not available until the following morning.

Jane tried Julia’s home number, which was answered almost straightaway.

‘Is that Julia?’ Jane said. ‘My name’s DS Tennison. My colleague and I talked to you at the agency? We have a few more questions for you, I’m afraid.’

‘Oh, I see. I suppose you could come this evening, if you like,’ Julia replied, without sounding very enthusiastic. She gave her home address as a mews in Queen’s Gate. ‘I’ll only be there until seven, though, because I’m going to the theatre.’

‘Thank you, Julia,’ Jane said. ‘I’ll be with you shortly.’

Jane put a note on Spencer’s desk to say she had gone to see Julia Summers, and also made a note in the station diary.

As she left the station, she passed Tyler in the corridor.

‘I heard about your problems with Justine this afternoon. If you want to talk, I’ll be in the office early.’ He nodded to her and went back to his office.

It didn’t take long for Jane to drive from the station to Julia Summers’ house. The mews was directly behind Queen’s Gate. Jane reckoned at one time they had been stables or staff quarters for the elegant houses. Julia’s address was at the end of the mews, where there were two bicycles chained up against a railing beside a notice saying: No bicycles.