‘We still haven’t found the weapon which was used to disembowel him. I checked all the knives but there doesn’t appear to be one missing. Our victim also had a very good selection of chef’s carving knives, but they’re all still in their boxes. As for the razor, Foxley used an electric shaver.’

‘Well, according to a neighbor I just spoke to, the previous owner, Sebastian Martinez, designed the place, and Charles Foxley bought it already furnished and kitted out.’

‘Ah . . . ’ Lawrence said as he filled the kettle and put it on.

‘He was set designer or architect . . . I’m not sure.’

Lawrence put teabags into two fine china mugs and poured boiling water over them. He then took a carton of milk from a cooler bag. ‘Do you take sugar?’

‘No, that’s fine,’ Jane replied. She could see the ever-professional Lawrence also had a jar of instant coffee and two Tupperware boxes with the remains of his sandwiches.

‘Would you like a Kit-Kat?’ he asked.

‘No thanks. You certainly come prepared.’ She smiled.

‘Yeah, well, you know me. I should’ve left hours ago, but something just doesn’t feel right.’

She laughed softly. ‘Well, I doubt finding a disemboweled body feels right at any time.’

He smiled. ‘No, I don’t mean that. I’ve been told that our victim lived here for at least a year, but there doesn’t seem to be any imprint of who he was. There are just the few photographs that you saw earlier, there’s very little food in any of the cupboards, the fridge is almost empty. But if you come through with me . . . ’

He stood up, carrying his mug of tea, and Jane followed him into the bedroom.

She watched as Lawrence carefully maneuvered himself across the cardboard strips protecting the bloodstains and opened a wardrobe door.

‘OK, we have good quality shirts, we have two designer suits, a couple of pairs of corduroy trousers . . . ’ He looked down to the base of the wardrobe. ‘Some cheap trainers -– maybe used them for dog walking – but no other shoes.’

‘That’s odd, isn’t it?’ Jane agreed. ‘Did you know we found a big supply of vitamins in his office?’

Lawrence shut the wardrobe door. ‘Interesting. We found a large supply of vitamins in the bathroom cabinet.’

Lawrence then guided Jane to the chest of drawers, easing one open after another. ‘Underpants, socks, a few cashmere sweaters, that’s it.’

Jane looked around the ornate bedroom. ‘His office was rather like going into an old Victorian house. All the furniture is worn and covered in dog hairs. I don’t see that much evidence of the dogs here.’

Lawrence nodded. ‘Well, there is the dog basket. But, apart from the blood, the place is pristine.’

‘So, what’s bothering you?’