‘I didn’t know – I didn’t realise – I thought –’ he stammered when Geraldine asked him to tell her exactly what he had seen. ‘I was so surprised – I went over because I thought a house burglar –’ He broke off with a shake of his head. ‘That is –’ He drew in a deep breath and tried again. This time his words came out in a rush. ‘I thought someone was trying to break in, because I could see there was a person at the end of the garden. My dahlias were completely crushed,’ he added with a burst of indignation. ‘As soon as I glanced in that direction I saw it – saw him.’ He shuddered. ‘I’m telling you, I had no idea he was dead. How could I have known? The fact is, I thought, when I saw him – my first instinct was to call the police and report an intruder, sleeping it off in my garden. It seemed unbelievable I know, but that was what I saw. At least, that’s what I thought I saw. It never occurred to me that he might have had a stroke, or a heart attack, or whatever it was that did for him. But in any case, he was still trespassing on my property, regardless of what had happened to him. What was I supposed to do?’

‘What did you do? Please try to remember exactly.’

‘If I’d realised he was dead, I wouldn’t have gone anywhere near him, I can promise you that. I would have gone straight back indoors and called the police. But I had no idea he was dead. How could I?’ He looked at Geraldine anxiously. ‘So I went over and yelled at him to get up.’

Geraldine frowned. ‘Wasn’t that a little rash, sir? He could have been violent.’

Roger nodded. ‘You’re right. It was stupid, I know, but I’m afraid I rather lost my temper. My dahlias, you see. He was damaging my dahlias.’

‘You and your dahlias,’ Roger’s daughter said, entering the room and overhearing what her father said. ‘I’ve put the kettle on, dad. Would you like a cup of tea, Sergeant?’

Geraldine declined the offer and turned back to Roger. ‘What did you do then?’

‘At first I thought he must have drunk himself unconscious, because he was just lying there. Drunk, or drugged, I didn’t know what was happening, but whatever it was, I wanted him gone. I mean, it’s hardly the place you’d expect to see a dead body, lying in your dahlias, in your own back garden, is it? Not that I know where you would be likely to see one.’ He broke off with an awkward shrug. ‘I’m sorry if I’m talking too much. It’s my nerves. This isn’t a situation I’m used to dealing with. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before.’