He followed her into a huge, light living area with blocky modern chairs, floor-to-ceiling windows and a view of the harbour on two sides. Like the hallway, it looked almost unlived in. Only a pair of used tumblers, a pack of cigarettes and a lighter on the coffee table spoiled the show-home effect.

April flung herself onto one of the sofas, with a very quiet groan.

‘OK. Better.’ She brushed some of her hair back out of her eyes. ‘Sorry. I may have overdone the tequila yesterday. Please speak slowly.’

‘Of course,’ Lightman said. ‘It shouldn’t take long. We just wanted to confirm what time you left the house, and whether you saw or heard anything strange.’

April continued to fiddle with her hair as she thought. ‘The cab must’ve arrived at eleven fifteen. I booked it just before eleven, and there was a little wait.’

‘Was there anyone outside at that point?’

‘Not that I saw,’ April said, and then she looked at him with more focus. ‘Hey, is Louise OK? You said this dead guy was in the front yard? Garden?’

‘Yes. Louise seems all right, but finding him was obviously a bit of a shock.’

‘Jesus.’ April’s expression was dark. ‘I’ll drop her a line.’

‘Did you hear anyone driving around?’ Lightman went on. ‘Any strange sounds?’

There was another pause, and April shook her head. ‘No. The cab was sitting there with its lights on and the engine off, so you’d think we would have heard anything … Does Louise remember hearing something?’

‘Nothing definitive,’ Lightman replied.

April nodded, very slowly. ‘Shit,’ she said. ‘This is the last damn thing Louise needs. The last.’

4

Louise

So. You know, now, how Drunk Louise was first born. It may surprise you to know that I almost turned my back on her the next day. I’d never had a hangover before, and this one was so intense that I honestly thought I’d damaged myself irreparably. I was sick all day, right up until four p.m., and for all of that wretched time I could only look back on every single thing I’d done with nauseated regret.

But then April got in touch to arrange a coffee, telling me she needed me in her life. And you messaged me later on, as you’d promised. You told me how much fun I was, and how much you’d like to see me again.

These were two sudden points in Drunk Louise’s favour, and as the mild alcohol poisoning receded, I imagined that I might be able to drink again, if I was more careful.

It helped Drunk Louise’s case that I was nervous about meeting you when I was sober. I had no idea how to flirt without her help. So having booked in a date, I decided that I’d let myself have a few glasses before we met.