Arnold inserted a tape and after a few moments the screen came to life. What they were looking at seemed to be a film premiere as there were banks of photographers milling around, and then the glamorous figure of a well-known film star in a beautiful couture gown appeared and the flashing cameras went crazy.

Tyler pointed at the screen. ‘There he is!’

Charles Foxley was walking a few paces behind the film star, wearing an evening suit and black tie. He had wavy blond hair just down to his shirt collar. Jane was surprised how good-looking he was. The next shot was of a similar event, and Jane and Spencer recognized Emma Ransom talking animatedly to Foxley.

They all sat watching the footage of fifteen similar events, and Foxley was always there somewhere on the periphery of the action. One showed a crowded after-show party and Foxley appeared to be working the room, smiling and greeting everyone there, kissing one glamorous woman after another.

Eventually Tyler stood up. ‘Anyone who wants to keep watching, go ahead, but I think we’ve seen enough of the smarmy bastard, and as you’re all aware, we still haven’t identified a single serious suspect, let alone a motive. I want the rest of the names that Myers gave us checked out, and, more importantly, I want that missing diary.’

Tyler left the room and the rest of the detectives followed, as the video footage continued to play.

Spencer drained his coffee and chucked the empty cup into the bin. ‘You get anything from the ex-wife?’

Jane shrugged. ‘Not a lot. I think she’s having a relationship with George Henson – he was there. Apparently our victim used to spend a lot of time at the old marital home in Barnes.’

She looked at the screen, then reached for the remote control and pressed the pause button. She rewound the tape.

‘You know, Spence, it’s so strange, watching him at these premieres, rubbing shoulders with all these celebrities and being charming, while we know he had a sick perversion, so perverted that he was going there before he started work, at his lunchtimes . . . How do you slow the video down?’

Spence grabbed the remote control. ‘You can’t. I can freeze-frame it, though. What are you looking for?’

‘His eyes. Look at his eyes, Spence.’

They sat side by side and watched one frame after another. On the surface Foxley appeared to be confident and animated, but Jane went close up to the screen and tapped it with her pencil. ‘He has dead eyes. He hates himself.’

Chapter Nine

CHAPTER NINE

Jane and Spencer arrived at Foxley’s offices just before two p.m. Rita was the only girl in reception. She looked forlornly at Jane.

‘Julia Summers will be back any moment, but she’s in a shockin’ state. Everyone’s asking when the funeral’s gonna be, but we’ve not been told nothin’.’