I think only people like me do this. I get heightened perception. I’m insecure. I’m pissed on pot, Claud darling. I found it in his overcoat, him of all people! He made me safe. This perception is awful. I found it last night, I wonder if – no not last night – last year Claud, it’s made me remember – it was at a party –

The writing straggled and stopped. Hugh sniffed the book. I’m not a trained Labrador, he thought. Then he remembered the overcoat at the back of Matilda’s cupboard, crawled back in.

In the pockets of an overcoat he found a sizeable amount of cannabis and a packet of heroin. He flushed the heroin down the lavatory and pocketed the cannabis. It would be interesting to know why Matilda had left evidence of Tom while sweeping herself out of the house before her picnic. And the note to Claud? Perhaps Claud was the only one she could talk to. Hugh walked thoughtfully downstairs.

Mr Jones was standing in the kitchen.

‘I thought there must be someone here,’ he said. ‘Who are you?’

‘My name is Hugh Warner.’

‘The Matricide, eh?’

‘Yes.’

‘Mine is Jones.’

‘How d’you do.’

‘Matilda usually asks me to care for Gus when she goes away.’

‘I’m doing it.’

‘Good.’ Mr Jones looked hesitant. ‘Do you know when she will be back?’

‘No.’

‘Oh.’

‘I’ve just flushed the heroin down the loo –’

‘Oh de-arr!’

‘I suppose it comes in the UFOs.’

‘Clever you are.’

‘Matilda seems to have found out.’

‘Oh de-arr.’

‘Shall we ring the police separately or together?’

‘Whatever for?’

‘You can tell them about me and I can tell them about you.’

‘No.’

‘No?’

‘Too upsetting for Matilda. When did she find out about Tom, then?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘I bet she’s strangled the knowledge.’ Mr Jones teased his hair carefully. ‘She does that, it’s her gift. She won’t remember anything she wishes to forget, if you catch the drift.’

‘I’ve caught it.’

Mr Jones laughed.

‘How much heroin was there?’

‘One packet.’

‘Good, that’s what I missed. Ah well, not to worry. Since Tom’s untimely heart attack all that’s over.’

‘But you reported a UFO this morning.’

‘So you were listening? They don’t come any more, not since Tom’s demise. I just go on occasionally reporting one. You should never stop anything suddenly, it makes the police suspicious.’ The Welsh accent had returned. Hugh began to laugh.

‘Do you play chess?’ asked Mr Jones. ‘Tom was a very good player. I miss it.’

Hugh nodded.

‘Good. Did you sleep in her bed last night? It was warm when I felt it.’

‘Yes.’

‘In the cupboard were you?’

‘Yes.’

‘It would be nice to sleep in that bed with Matilda.’

‘I hadn’t thought of it.’

‘But I have.’ Mr Jones sighed. ‘I suggested it. Fatal. She was offended. Took offence.’

‘Poor Mr Jones.’