The police station was buzzing with suppressed tension the following morning. Sipping a mug of strong coffee and picking at a plate of fried eggs on toast, Geraldine did her best to shake off her despondency. Her mood did not improve when she went to an early briefing Eileen had called and saw Ian across the room. He looked unshaven and Geraldine’s personal disappointment was immediately lost in concern for his wellbeing. She had always thought that his wife, Bev, was self-centred. Geraldine’s opinion was not entirely unfounded, although coloured by jealousy. Bev was blonde and undeniably beautiful, with dainty elfin features that gave her a childlike appeal. Her looks contrasted with Geraldine’s strong striking features, short black hair and unfathomable dark eyes. Ian had been unable to devote himself to his wife to the exclusion of all else, and she had resented being married to a police officer dedicated to his work. Now Geraldine could only hope that he would not be cajoled into taking her back. Ian had admitted to Geraldine that he had never really loved his wife. He had been infatuated with her since they had met at school, but he had come to recognise that they had never developed a mature adult relationship. Even so, they had been together for a long time.

With a sigh, Geraldine turned her attention to what Eileen was saying.

‘SOCOs found vomit on his jacket and on the seat of his car. So it looks as though he was going out when he fell ill and collapsed. He was apparently attempting to return to the house. His wife said he was going out to the car wash and didn’t return home, but it looks like he never got there, and probably didn’t even leave the drive.’

‘Why didn’t he phone her to come and help him if he was ill?’ a constable asked. ‘Or call an ambulance?’

‘His phone was found in his car.’

‘That was unlucky,’ someone said.

‘Perhaps,’ Eileen replied. ‘But let’s not start jumping to conclusions before we even know what he died of. There could be an innocent explanation, but the body has gone for a post mortem. We’ll discuss this again when we have more information. And now, what about Jason Colman?’