Kelly heard stories of how George gave people lifts home, and Emily brought in cakes, and Mike spoke about his teenagers all the time. The women were unanimous in their verdict that Alexandros was the company heart-throb, although this was informal and in the strictest confidence. Kelly laughed companionably and listened to them pouring their hearts out. It was a position that very few people found themselves in: having to speak to a police officer about the murder of work colleagues, and dear ones at that, or so it sounded.

‘Was there any company gossip about them? I know how it is – I used to work for the Met. Stories fly about.’ She waited.

‘Nothing at all. Apart from everybody wanting to sit next to Alexandros at the Christmas party.’

‘Ah, the Christmas party!’ Kelly echoed. ‘And do you think Mike and Emily were both happily married? I know that’s a weird question – how would you know, right? But anything at all is a help at this stage.’ She had begun her real line of questioning, but the women hadn’t noticed.

‘They brought their partners and kids in on family days, and they were just lovely. George never remarried.’

‘After his daughter died and he divorced?’

The women were impressed that she knew so much.

‘Yes. It was so sad. He was such a lovely man, he would have made a fantastic husband.’ One of the women passed her colleague a tissue and she blew her nose.

‘Do you think we’re safe? No one is telling us.’

‘I’m sure you are. I can’t tell you our lines of inquiry, but I have faith that Ravensword has in place more than adequate security procedures for staff.’ It was true but bullshit at the same time. Every company had procedures, but that didn’t mean they worked, otherwise they wouldn’t have three bodies, one still in Ted’s freezer in Carlisle. She felt an instant pang for home and couldn’t believe that this was only her first full day here.

‘Did the team keep themselves to themselves, or did they have other close colleagues? Do you all socialise separately?’

‘No, we’re quite a close bunch. I know each lab is a bit territorial, but we’re all friendly.’

‘What about management?’

The women looked at one another.

‘Something juicy?’ Kelly asked. Two of the women giggled.

‘It’s nothing,’ the other said sternly.

‘Really? It might not be,’ Kelly said.

‘It’s well known that the biggest budgets go to the biggest tits.’

‘Ida!’

‘And the biggest tits are in which department? I know George didn’t have any.’ Kelly raised her eyebrows conspiratorially and the women all smiled.

‘You might want to check out the head of primates, Professor Cooper. She’s very close to the current CEO.’

‘And the last one.’