Robin thought she heard a note of relief. ‘Is that a good thing?’

‘No. I mean, not as far as I know. Except that if the police aren’t involved and it’s just private, it’s less worrying, you know? From the point of view of her being safe, I mean, not …’

‘Not …?’

‘Hurt. Or worse.’

‘How long have you known Becca – you don’t mind me asking a few questions?’

‘No, that’s fine. Whatever, if it’ll help.’

‘Did you meet at The Spot? My colleague and I were there yesterday and Lisa, is it, who runs the back room?’

‘Yes.’

‘I can’t remember if she said you two had known each other before.’

‘No, we met there. I’ve been there a bit longer, I started in July, and I’m full time so I helped train Becca and we worked together quite a bit. We just hit it off, she’s fun. Actually – she’s a couple of years younger than me – she reminds me of my little sister.’

‘In what way?’

‘She’s funny, kind of self-deprecating. Ironic one-liners, generally at her own expense. She’s good on a night out – likes a few drinks, likes a dance, she’ll always come for a kebab with you at the end of the night. And she’s kind. She knew I was missing home round my birthday so she made me this amazing chocolate tart – it was like something from a patisserie in Paris but she’d done it herself, all these decorative curls. She’s the only person who’s been shown a photo of the KP’s new baby.’

‘KP?’

‘Kitchen porter. Pot-washer, vegetable-peeler. She talks to him – or tries anyway, his English isn’t great. She says hello, brings him a lemonade from the bar, you know?’

‘Right. So she’s popular?’

‘Definitely.’

‘Any of the blokes ever shown an interest? Or customers?’

‘A bit – there was some flirting but nothing major. And even if they had, they wouldn’t have got anywhere.’

‘Why?’

A little pause. ‘Have you met her friend Harry?’

‘Yes.’

‘They’re going out. Seeing each other.’

‘Did she tell you that?’

‘Yes.’

‘You didn’t guess or work it out?’

‘No, she told me.’

Interesting. ‘I’m sorry, that probably sounded a bit weird but I wanted to be sure. You’re the only person we’ve come across that she actually did tell.’

‘I know,’ she said. ‘How’s Harry doing? Is he okay?’

‘Not really. Tarryn, do you have any idea why they were keeping it quiet? He said it was because of their friend Lucy.’

‘That’s what she told me, too, yeah.’

‘Did that strike you as strange at all?’