Her straight shoulders seemed to sag and she stood back from the door. It opened straight on to her living room, and I sat down before she could change her mind. Behind me, Maggie closed the door firmly and went through to the kitchen. I could hear the sound of a kettle being filled. I took the chance to take stock of the room. It was large, occupying most of the ground floor of the house. One of the alcoves by the chimney breast held an assortment of books, from science fiction to sociology texts. The other Judith. The room contained two sofas and, in the bay, a small pine dining table with four chairs. It looked like home, but only one person’s idea of it.

She came through with a pot of tea on a tray with two mugs, a bottle of milk and a bowl of sugar. “I’ve got this terrible thirst. I can’t seem to stop drinking tea,” she said absently as she poured. Her hair looked dishevelled, as did the sweatshirt and jeans she was wearing. The room was unbearably warm, the gas fire on full, yet Maggie shivered as she lifted her mug to her lips.

“I’m sorry,” I said, knowing how hollow it would sound, but feeling the need nevertheless. “I hardly knew her, but I liked what I did know.”

Maggie walked over to the window and stared out at the silent rain falling on the gray roofs. “Let’s get one thing straight, Kate,” she observed. “I am not going to discuss my feelings with you. I have friends for that. I’ll tell you anything I can about what happened after she left with you that night, but our feelings for each other and the way I feel right now is nothing to do with you.”

“That’s fine by me,” I said, feeling like I’d been reprieved. After Jett’s histrionics, I didn’t know how much more I could take.

She turned back into the room and sat on the other sofa, as far from me as it was possible to be. “I suppose Jett’s hired you to discover I did it?” she challenged.

“I’m working for Jett, but he hasn’t pointed the finger at anyone. I think he’s still too upset to have given it much thought. It was him who found the body, you know.”

“I didn’t know,” she sighed. “You should never have tried to find her. If Jett had let the past rest in peace, she’d still be here now.”

I couldn’t deny it. And I saw no point in trying to justify my own part in the process. “Suppose we go back to the beginning and work forward?” I asked. “What happened after I took her over to see Jett?”