‘Obviously that is your right,’ says Conway. ‘You can follow your solicitor’s advice but at the end of the day it is just advice. She isn’t the one who’s going to be going to trial—’

Jan sees something and quickly leans forward in her seat.

‘To trial, Officer? Are you charging Mr Shute?’

‘Well, we don’t know that yet, do we? Depends on what happens in this interview.’

‘Does it?’ she says. ‘You know that if you have enough evidence to charge my client, then this interview shouldn’t be happening at all.’

Conway shifts about, loosens his collar. This dance isn’t one he is good at.

‘I’m well aware of that, Ms Cullen. Now, as we were saying, there are a few questions we would like your comments on.’

I wait as Blake looks down at a file of papers. She seems less than pleased but I can’t precisely describe how she seems. Embarrassed? Irritated?

‘Picking up from the last interview we had, I wanted to clarify whether you have now had a chance to consider whether you did know the victim, Michelle Mackintosh?’ asks Conway.

That word ‘victim’ lies heavy in the air. I look across at Jan and she shakes her head almost imperceptibly.

‘I did know her,’ I say.

‘I just want to remind you of my advice, Mr Shute,’ Jan says, her voice brittle.

‘And were the two of you in a relationship?’

I take a breath. I badly want to explain this part. There is no harm in this part of my story. Jan’s eyes are steel.

‘No comment,’ I say. She relaxes slightly in her seat.

‘Actually, there’s not much point denying it. At the time of your last interview, officers carried out a search of your bail address and found some interesting things. For the tape I am showing the suspect exhibit RG/9, a selection of photographs. Have a look at these, Mr Shute. These are pictures of you and the deceased. And just so you’re aware, these are just a few of the ones we have.’

I didn’t know that Seb had photographs. Of course, he must have had some. I think of the one on the mantel.

‘Is that a question, Officer?’ Jan says.

‘No, the question is just whether you are prepared to accept there was a relationship between you both?’ he says, flaring.

I don’t know how it can harm my defence if I accept this but I follow the advice. ‘No comment.’

‘Okay then. Let’s do this the hard way,’ he says.

‘Exhibit RG/10 is a letter written by hand on light blue notepaper.’ I stare at it and remember it immediately. There are yin and yang signs on each corner. This was Grace’s trademark paper. She always wrote to me on that paper.

‘Do you recognise this letter?’