Frustrated, she pressed the play button once again. She watched as Alex turned, and then, in a move she really hadn’t expected, walked into the kebab shop. He disappeared from view, and as time ticked onwards, the truth dawned on her. Alex had been looking to see if he had his bank card. He’d gone to buy himself food.

Seven minutes later, Alex emerged clutching an open kebab in a wrapper. Although Louise Reakes wasn’t in sight at this point, it was clear she would be long gone by now. Alex and Louise hadn’t met up outside the club, and it didn’t look like he could possibly have followed her.

So how, Hanson thought, had he ended up dying in her bed?

Patrick Moorcroft made it to Southampton Central just after midday. He was wearing a different but equally expensive-looking suit-and-watch combination, and to Jonah’s thanks for coming in he responded with a terse, ‘Let’s get on with it, shall we?’

Louise’s expression was more resigned today, though Jonah suspected that part of that was tiredness. Few people slept well during their first night in the cells.

With the preamble done and Lightman ready next to him, Jonah began the interview.

‘In your account of Friday night, you insisted that you remembered nothing from the later part of the evening.’

‘That’s right,’ Louise said, her voice lifeless.

‘Louise,’ Jonah said in a low, urgent voice. ‘I want to be clear on this. We aren’t interested in condemning you for your behaviour. We want to know what resulted in the death of a young man. Whatever happened, it is vital that you tell us the truth.’

‘I have,’ she said, her eyes gleaming slightly.

‘My client has expressed no wish to alter her statement,’ Patrick Moorcroft said. ‘She has also explained her lack of memory to you.’

‘Understood,’ Jonah said, without looking away from Louise. ‘But there may be confused, hazy memories that you haven’t told us about. Perhaps things that make no sense to you.’

Jonah saw, clearly, the way Louise reacted. It was the expression of someone who has been seen through.

‘I don’t think I …’ Louise shook her head. ‘There’s only been a dream. And … and a few …’

‘We need to know.’

Louise turned to Patrick. Her solicitor looked torn, as well he might. It was unclear whether anything Louise said was likely to incriminate or exonerate her. But it was important to show that his client was cooperating where she could. He glanced at Jonah, weighing things up, and then nodded.