‘There’s clearly deep-rooted stuff going on in his psyche,’ I said. ‘I suppose I should try to feel sorry for him, but he acts like such a dick.’

‘I know.’ Jai fell silent but the air was full of him preparing his words. ‘I wasn’t going to tell you this, but I’ve been worrying about it. I wondered if he’s been violent towards his wife and that’s what he’s getting counselling about?’

‘Oh shit, really? Do you think that’s why Tamsyn keeps approaching us? Does she need help? Shit.’

‘I’m not sure. I thought it might be.’

‘Is that what you said to him when he hit you?’

‘Yeah. He hit me for accusing him of being violent. He doesn’t have a finely developed sense of irony.’

‘God, I hope Tamsyn’s okay. She must know how hard it can be to get action taken against violent cops. We have to help her.’

‘What can we do? We’ve got no evidence. I might be totally wrong.’

‘Just keep a close eye, I suppose. And if she contacts us again about anything, I’ll try and get it out of her.’

We carried on along the tree-lined lane towards Eldercliffe. The rain was making the stony, muddy ground on each side encroach upon the tarmac, narrowing the road to the point where meeting one of the vast quarry trucks would be genuinely hair-raising. Luckily the road was empty apart from us.

‘Also, I’d been meaning to tell you …’ Jai said.

‘What?’

‘Er, me and Suki split up.’

‘Oh no! I’m so sorry.’

‘It’s for the best. You see, Meg, I was going to say to you. I wonder if we—’

‘You’re right,’ I said. ‘Cops are better not having relationships. It’s too complicated.’ But what I meant was that I was just too tired to think about this. Even if it could be really good. Because I was exhausted after Gran, and this case. And I wasn’t over Daniel, but I couldn’t say that because I couldn’t admit to my feelings for him. And anything that involved effort, that involved one or both of us changing jobs, no matter how good it could be, was too much. ‘Detectives are better off single,’ I said.

Jai sighed. ‘I’m sure you’re right.’

And we sat in silence, listening to the sound of the tyres on the rain-soaked road.

Jai steered around a rock, then said, ‘I found out who Richard went on holiday with.’

I felt awkward saying it. ‘Is love in the air?’