‘I doubt they knew the same people. George was a salt-of-the-earth East End lad. My grandfather was a philanthropist; he brought all sorts of waifs and strays home.’

The condescension struck Kelly as curious. She got the impression that Sebastian didn’t appreciate his grandfather’s penchant for friends with less money or status than himself.

‘So, you don’t think the friendship was genuine?’ she asked.

‘I’m sure George got a lot out of it.’

‘Can you elaborate? Did Mr Murphy gain financially from the relationship?’

‘I have no idea, but I think my grandfather was too generous to everyone, and towards the end, he’d let anyone in.’

‘How long had they known each other?’

‘I’m not sure. Best part of ten years, I think.’

‘Could you show us where George slept?’

‘They’ve already been over everything with their sticky tape and plastic bags.’

‘I’d still like you to show us,’ Kelly said.

Sebastian sighed and stood up, leading them back to the hall and upstairs to a bedroom. Kelly flicked on her iPad and scrolled to the forensic reports that they had so far. Some genetic material had been collected from the en-suite bathroom adjoining George’s room and sent to the lab for testing. A few usable prints had also been lifted from a water glass by the bed and a bottle of medicine in the bathroom. She noted from the report that the bathroom seemed to have been cleaned thoroughly and had smelt heavily of bleach when forensics first entered. Kelly still didn’t have a murder scene, and she was on the lookout for one. Dogs had been used to search the area around the boathouse for anything indicating the smell of death, but had turned up nothing. It was a puzzle.

The bedroom was tidy. She walked towards the bathroom and opened the door. The aroma of bleach was still present. She knew from the report that the use of fluorescein by forensics had indicated that blood residue could have been cleaned from the shower, but only the lab could confirm that. They’d have a long wait to determine whether George had merely cut himself shaving or whether there was enough blood to cause suspicion.

‘Do you have a cleaner?’ she asked.

‘No. There’s no point. All of this will be ripped out as part of the refurbishment.’

‘Can’t you smell bleach? But there isn’t any in here.’ She opened various cupboards and checked her notes for items removed. Cleaning products were not on the list.

Sebastian sniffed. ‘I’m not sure. It could be the wild garlic outside the window.’

‘Did you speak to George when he was here?’