‘However, we were in the end able to question Ms. Harris, and she attempted to clarify her movements throughout the day Charles Foxley was murdered. These details are to be checked out and verified. We are still not able to pinpoint the exact time of death; the pathologist has just given us a three-hour window from five thirty to eight thirty as rigor mortis had occurred within that time. There is still the possibility that Ms. Harris is a suspect.’ He frowned. ‘I can certainly vouch for her physical strength. She has admitted giving Mr. Foxley drugs, and claims that when she had not heard from him, she became concerned, and that was the reason she returned to his flat the following day. As we are all aware, the blood on Ms. Harris’s coat and on her trainers is a match for Mr. Foxley’s, but there’s nothing to prove the bloodstains weren’t acquired at the scene when police were there.’

Miller turned a page in his notebook. ‘We have confirmed that Ms. Harris has been committed three times, first at age thirteen, a couple of years later at fifteen and then again at twenty-five. Her diagnosis is schizophrenia and she is on medication. Notes attached to her medical records describe her dysfunctional behavior and violent mood swings.’

‘With that diagnosis, I’m surprised her daughter wasn’t taken into care,’ Jane remarked.

Miller shrugged his shoulders. ‘Perhaps social services were never made aware of it. Maybe you could now tell us about the dagger found at Ms. Harris’s home.’

Jane flicked back through her notebook. ‘The knife had been placed out of sight on a marble mantelpiece in the drawing room. Ms. Harris explained that it had been put there for the safety of her daughter. The blade’s eight inches long and very sharp. The knife is being examined for traces of blood, which could be matched to the victim. But it’s unlikely to be the missing weapon used to disembowel the victim as that appears to have been a serrated-edged knife.’

She was about to sit down when Miller pointed his pencil at her.

‘You spent some considerable time at the agency. Is there any further information you gathered we should be made aware of?’

‘We know Foxley was withdrawing a large amount of cash – two to four thousand pounds every couple of weeks – and even after taking into account his visits to the brothel and his drug use, there’s a substantial amount of cash unaccounted for.’

Miller interrupted her. ‘Do you think he was being blackmailed?’

Jane shook her head. ‘I have not identified anyone who might have been blackmailing him.’ She gave a sidelong look to Spencer but he had his head down, doodling in his notebook.

‘Anything else?’ Miller asked.