‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ Slater was trying to play them and assume the role of master puppeteer; dictating what information he should concede. Matt told the officer what to say next.

‘A mobile telephone found during a search of your property in Ascot, Surrey, revealed that an officer from the Metropolitan Police called your number, and received calls from you, twenty-three times over the past two weeks. Can you explain why that might be?’

Matt couldn’t imagine how shitty it had been for the officer who’d been tasked with dragging the sergeant in for questioning at Hendon, but the grim job had been carried out and it hadn’t taken long to establish sufficient evidence for a charge. He’d lose his job, he’d go down for sure, and he would probably never be trusted again. Idiot. Whatever the benefits, it was never worth it.

Matt left Slater’s investigation and turned back to Tooting’s.

‘Tell him that Ravensword have frozen his assets while they conduct a private investigation into abuse of company finances.’

For once, Tooting didn’t comment; not even to say ‘no comment’. Both Tooting and the solicitor next to him shifted slightly in their seats: Philip had chosen to use a Ravensword solicitor to represent him.

‘Tell the solicitor sitting next to him that he might want to call his boss – who is awake and expecting his call – to clarify whether he is to remain as Mr Tooting’s counsel tonight.’

At 1 a.m., both interviews were suspended and the suspects sent to cells to mull over their futures.

Matt checked on the status of Tilly Knight, who’d been taken to a local hospital. He thought he might take a wander over there. Sleep was out of the question, and he was curious to meet Graeme Millar. He turned off the monitoring equipment in the office at Eden House and looked around. This was Kelly’s empire, and he was envious of her. It was intimate, three-dimensional and real. Not that he disliked his own job – far from it – but this had the feel of an old-school investigative environment where officers chased leads and pulled in suspects face to face. He had to admit that his role in London could be soulless.

He grabbed his jacket and asked the staff downstairs at the front desk how he could get to the hospital. They arranged a car and he was soon on his way.