He won’t believe it because he can’t believe it. Oscar is spoiled, changeable, overly confident in his ability to charm. He’s grief-stricken, certainly. At least, he seems it at times; the rest of the time he’s too busy channeling the confident charmer. Could that be it? Schizophrenia or something? Perhaps there are other Oscars he has yet to see. A crazy Oscar, racked with guilt. A serial arsonist with daddy issues. But he just doesn’t buy it.

Daddy issues.

The mobile is still in his hand. He finds the number he needs still saved on his phone, and Sophie Denham answers in two rings.

“Hello?” She speaks hesitantly, obviously not recognizing his number.

“It’s DS Tyler.” It’s not exactly a lie; he still has his rank on the telephone at least. For a short while anyway.

She’s quiet at first and then she says, “I’m not supposed to talk to you.”

“I understand. I just need to ask you one question.”

“If my father finds out . . .” Her voice is light and whispery.

“He won’t.”

More silence. He’s beginning to wonder if she’s hung up on him, but then she says, “Just a minute.” He imagines her getting up, closing the door to her bedroom.

He wonders who she is with, and when she gets back to the phone he can’t stop himself asking. “Is Oscar there?”

This time she doesn’t hesitate. “No, I’m round Dad’s. I haven’t seen Oscar for days. We’re . . . well, we’re not together anymore.”

“Right,” he says, and then realizes that’s probably not enough. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. It only started up again because of Dad.” She laughs. “That probably sounds a bit weird, right? What I mean is, he never really liked Oscar, so I figured it would wind him up a bit if we started hanging out again.”

“Did it?”

“More than a little.”

“Why doesn’t he?”

“What?”

“Why doesn’t your father like Oscar?”

“It’s nothing personal. I think he just didn’t want me to get involved with Gerry’s son.” She sighs lightly, perhaps wondering if she’s made the right decision. “He thinks Oscar’s a distraction. And . . . well, I guess he’s right.” She laughs again, a relieved sort of giggle. “The ironic thing is, in the last few weeks he’s probably seen more of Oscar than I have.”

“What do you mean?”

“I guess they have business to talk about? Dad’s on the CWI board of directors. Every time he comes round they’re talking business about something.”

He wonders about that. If Oscar is as broke as Doggett claims, how does he afford Denham’s services? He’s an old family friend, so he might do Oscar the occasional favor, but on the other hand he disapproves of the man’s relationship with his daughter, so why would he help? Perhaps the two of them are closer than they appear. Perhaps this isn’t the first time Denham has helped Oscar out of a sticky situation.