“What’s all this about?”

“I’m looking into the kidnapping and murder of Luke Armitage,” Annie said. “Your sister was his teacher.”

“Yes, I know. She’s very upset about it.”

“Did you ever meet Luke?”

“Me? No. I’d heard of him, of course, of his father, anyway.”

“Martin Armitage?”

“That’s right. I’ve won a few bob on teams he played for over the years.” Vernon grinned.

“But you never met Luke?”

“No.”

“Did your sister tell you much about him?”

“She talked about school sometimes,” Vernon said. “She might have mentioned him.”

“In what context?”

“As one of her pupils.”

“But not how exceptional he was, and that she gave him private tutoring?”

“No.” Vernon’s eyes narrowed. “Where are we going here?”

“Lauren said she was visiting you the day Luke disappeared. That’d be a week ago last Monday. Is that true?”

“Yes. Look, I’ve already been through all this with the other detective, the one who came by a few days ago.”

“I know,” said Annie. “That was one of the locals helping us out. It’s not always possible to get away. I’m sorry to bother you with it, but do you think you could bear to go through it again with me?”

Vernon folded his arms. “I suppose so. If you think it’s necessary.”

“If you don’t mind.”

“It’s just as I told the chap the other day. We had rather too much to drink and Lauren stayed over.” He patted the sofa. “It’s comfortable enough. Safer than trying to drive.”

“Admirable,” said Annie. People always seemed to make nervous comments about drinking and driving when police officers were around, as if that were the only crime they had time to pursue, all they were interested in. “Where were you drinking?”

“Where?”

“Which pub?”

“Oh, I see. We didn’t go to a pub. She came here for dinner and we had wine.”

“What kind?”

“Just an Australian Chardonnay. On sale at Sainsbury’s.”

“Did your sister visit you often?”

“Fairly often. Though I can’t see what that’s got to do with anything. Our father’s ill and Mother’s not coping too well. We had a lot to talk about.”

“Yes. I know about the Alzheimer’s. I’m sorry to hear it.”

Vernon’s jaw dropped. “You know? Lauren told you?”

“It’s surprising the information you pick up sometimes in this job. Anyway, I just wanted to make sure I’d got all the times right, for the record, you know. You’d be amazed if you knew how much of our job is just paperwork.”

Vernon smiled. “Well, as I remember, she arrived at about six o’clock, and that was it. We ate at around half past seven.”

“What did you cook?”

“Venison in white wine. From Nigella Lawson.”

It didn’t sound very appetizing to a vegetarian such as Annie, but to each his own, she thought. “And no doubt there was a fair bit of wine to wash it down with?”

“A couple of bottles. That’s why Lauren ended up staying. That and the Grand Marnier.”