The three years since I’ve seen this man have done little damage – some grey hairs sparkling at the edges and a suggestion of age wrinkling the corners of his eyes but other than that, he looks exactly the same. Piercing dark eyes, fine bone structure and a row of perfectly managed teeth. His smile wraps me like a hug. I feel like the cavalry has arrived. But what is he doing here already? I’m supposed to be picking him up at the airport later.

‘Andriu.’ I rush into his arms and fight the tears that spring forward with relief. Andriu doesn’t know what’s going on yet. Or so I think. Maybe he does. It’s possible the police have contacted him already.

‘I can’t believe you’re here… I thought I was to pick you up later. Did I get the time wrong?’

He looks around at the empty café.

‘No, I took an earlier flight. How are you?’

‘I’m great, great,’ I say, before remembering that I’m not. I don’t know whether to get straight into it with him or wait until we’ve at least said our hellos properly. ‘And you… you look great.’ I step back to have a better look.

I look at Muriel who is discreetly surmising the situation.

‘Is it okay if I have my break now?’ I say, knowing she won’t mind. Muriel nods, lifts her till tray and walks towards the back room.

‘I’m just about to have a coffee, Andriu. Can I get you one?’

‘Whatever you’re having,’ he says.

We’re both sitting with our coffees and I’m preparing to tell Andriu all about Lucas and the wedding and Australia when my mouth opens and says: ‘Have the police been in touch with you?’

‘What?’ Andriu leans back slightly. He looks shocked by my opening line. I’m a bit shocked myself so I take a deep breath and hug the mug in my hand.

‘Something happened at Huntley Lodge, Andriu. A woman’s body was found and now they want to talk to whoever lived there at the time.’

Andriu says nothing, so I continue. ‘A woman in her thirties – she’s been missing for three years and now her body has been found in the disused pit at the bottom of the garden at Huntley Lodge. Do you remember it, the big steel doors in the ground under all the brambles? Can you believe it? Jesus. And all the parties we had there.’

‘What?’ He eventually speaks, his eyes lighting up like I’ve just told him the most incredible news. ‘Are you serious?’

‘Yes, and the police are on to me because this all happened when we lived there.’

Andriu chuckles. ‘That’s impossible. Are you having me on, Tara?’ He smiles as if waiting on the punchline.