His answer was plain in the incredulous horror in her eyes as she looked up at him sharply. Her head moved slightly from side to side, her mouth opened as if to speak, but no sound was uttered.

Miller stood up as she buried her face in her hands and broke into a storm of weeping. He patted her gently on the shoulder and turned to Brady.

‘Take her home, Jack. You can use my car.’

‘What about you?’

‘I think I’ll have another little chat with Monica Grey and this time I’ll have some straight answers. You can catch up with me there.’

He went out quickly, fastening the belt of his trenchcoat as he moved along the corridor, and the expression on his face was like the wrath of God.

5

The door of her room was unlocked and when he opened it gently and went in, she was sitting on the edge of the bed buffing her nails. She glanced up sharply and Miller closed the door.

‘Sergeant Miller,’ she said and then her voice faltered.

Miller produced one of the photos and held it up. ‘Joanna Maria Craig.’ He slipped the photo back into his pocket. ‘Why did you lie to me?’

‘I don’t know what you mean.’

‘Joanna Craig was a student at the College of Art for the best part of two years. So were you. And don’t try to tell me you never came across her. You were in the same year group. I’ve just checked.’

She stared up at him, her face white, and he took his time over lighting a cigarette. ‘Another thing. Mrs Kilroy told me that Joanna had just arrived on the doorstep one day complete with baggage; that there just happened to be a vacancy. Now that isn’t true, is it? She knew there was a vacancy because you told her.’

She shook her head vigorously. ‘It isn’t true.’

‘Isn’t it? Then try this for size. You work for Max Vernon, don’t you?’

And this time he had her. Her eyes widened in horror, and he went on relentlessly, ‘Joanna was his girlfriend – I’ve got proof. Are you going to try to tell me you didn’t know that as well?’

She tried to get to her feet and he flung her back across the bed fiercely. ‘Come on, damn you! What about the truth for a change?’

She turned her face into the pillow and burst into a flood of tears, her whole body shaking. Miller stood looking down at her, something close to pity in his eyes, and then he moved across the room quickly and went into the small kitchen. He found half a bottle of gin in one of the cupboards, poured a generous measure into a tumbler and went back.

He sat on the edge of the bed and she turned her tear-stained face towards him. ‘He’ll kill me. I know he will.’