The woman became animated, leaning in and covering her mouth with her hand as she launched into a detailed description of what Tilly had read in the newspaper. By the time it was their turn to order, Tilly knew exactly where George been found, by whom, and what the locals were saying. She also knew where he had been staying, and that the man who owned the place, Allerdale House, was an outsider who was arrogant and reclusive. She had a photographic memory and she logged every detail as the woman talked.

‘Let me get these,’ she insisted.

‘Well, that’s kind of you, miss.’ The woman smiled broadly and Tilly paid.

‘Is there a public toilet here?’ she asked. The woman gave her directions, and it was a neat ending to their conversation. As Tilly walked away, she wrote notes on her phone and googled Derwent Marina. She looked up and orientated herself, calculating that she could probably walk there in five minutes.

Chapter 16

‘DC Hide, I’ve allocated you to DS Compton and you’ll spend the rest of the day with him.’ An officer stepped forward and shook hands with Emma. Emma glanced at Kelly, who nodded reassurance. This was what she’d come for, and she was about to see the coal face. It was invaluable experience. Emma’s grin was wide. Matt barked out jobs for his remaining officers, who left the room promptly. He and Kelly were left alone.

He got off the bench and approached her. She held her breath. Her heart rate elevated and she could feel her skin flushing. She regretted the decision she’d made to come to London. She could have sent Kate Umshaw, who’d have chewed Matt up and spat him out.

He walked straight past her and closed the door. Her nerves settled and she sat down.

‘You look really well, Kelly. I wanted to talk last night, but, you know.’ He swept his hand around the incident room, indicating that this wasn’t the place to discuss their messy break-up.

‘I am really well, Matt. Let’s not dwell on the past. I’m here for a reason.’

‘I just wanted to say sorry,’ he persevered.

‘Don’t you dare.’ She kept her back to the glass wall, so any onlookers couldn’t lip-read. She glared at him but kept quiet. She couldn’t have this argument now; they had work to do.

‘I didn’t mean to—’

‘Stop. Forget this or I’ll walk now. If I have to work with you, everything has to be straight. No lingering conversations about the past. No after-work drinks.’

‘No hotel rooms?’

‘Fuck off. I’m seeing someone.’

‘So am I.’

‘Oh, for Christ’s sake, Matt. We’re adults.’

‘And?’

‘We’ve got work to do. Stop being an arsehole.’

‘God, I’ve missed you.’

‘Give me a job, or I’m out of here in a patrol car taking statements from Emily Wilson’s cleaner.’