‘Didn’t he have gloves on at the time of his arrest?’

‘Ever tried dialling a mobile when you’re wearing a glove, boss? Oh no, on second thoughts, you’re probably still using a rotary dial phone.’

‘Haha. Well, I’m not planning on any sort of phone today; I’m actually having a day off.’

‘Oh yeah? Up to much?’

‘Cleo’s going to work, Bruno’s at school. I’ll have Noah to myself this morning, there’ll be toys everywhere, it’ll be brilliant. I’ve got Kaitlynn coming this afternoon to look after him so I can do all sorts of important stuff like wash the car and then satisfy my obsession.’

‘Which is?’

‘Cataloguing the latest additions to my vinyl collection. Don’t judge me! And remember trashing my music collection when you were my house guest?’

There was a brief silence as Glenn, slightly embarrassed, thought back to when he’d split up with his wife, Ari. Roy had let him stay in his house – then had gone mental when he’d found he’d put some of his precious collection into the wrong order. ‘I try not to! So, how’s Cleo doing this time round?’

‘She’s good, thanks, almost three months in – a bit of morning sickness but she’s a trooper. We’re trying to prep for having a newborn in the house again. Talking of preparations, how are yours going? You should have been married by now.’

‘Yep, we’ve just been way too busy. We’re fixing a date for summer next year now, there’s no mad rush. I’ll let you know as soon as we have it so you can book time off! Siobhan is mega busy so I’m part-time wedding planner at the moment and, honestly, I’m enjoying it, you know? Getting in touch with my feminine side, sorting the cake and flowers.’

Grace had a momentary image of Glenn, six foot two inches tall, solid muscle, black and bald. ‘I’m trying to imagine that – it’s not pretty.’

‘Yeah, yeah. Hope you’re working on your speech?’

‘Every minute of every day – thinking of how I can trash you.’ Grace paused. ‘Cake and flowers. Nice! Very exciting for you.’

‘This is the modern world.’

‘I have to say, one positive about being in the Met, I’m not missing your daily insults. So, about this Ferrari and the French connection, if you need any help from me, let me know. Gotta go now, I can hear that dinner bell again – don’t want the soup going cold.’

‘Make sure there aren’t any lumps in it.’

‘Lumps?’

‘Don’t want you choking to death.’

‘Haha!’

Then he heard a scream. Cleo’s voice from inside the cottage.

‘Roy! Oh God, ROYYYYYYY! ROYYYYYYYYYY!’

The sound pierced his heart.

He killed the call without saying anything, let himself in through the gate and, without waiting for Humphrey, sprinted towards the house.

12