‘Because her life’s been increasingly depressing.’ April made another impatient sound. ‘Look, I don’t want … This is Louise’s business. But … it’s hard when you want kids and don’t seem to be making any progress with having them. OK?’

‘Sure, OK,’ O’Malley answered. ‘And I know it seems intrusive, but all this stuff is useful so we can stop looking at someone who wasn’t involved.’

‘I guess I get that,’ April said, sounding a little less combative.

‘Louise’s husband was away, so you felt free to go out? Is that right?’

‘Darn right. Niall’s not too fond of his wife drinking anything these days.’ April gave a short laugh. ‘And he thinks I’m a bad influence, too.’

‘So he’d be angry with her if he knew?’

‘He’d be preachy,’ April corrected. ‘And that’s enough of a pain in the ass. Look, I’ve got about ten minutes before a meeting and I thought you wanted to know about last night.’

‘That’s fine,’ O’Malley said, easily. ‘Can you tell me when you arrived at the club?’

‘I guess … eleven thirty or something?’

‘And you were with Louise the whole time?’

‘Well, I went to the bar and the ladies a few times,’ April said. ‘And then I – sorta hit it off with this guy …’

‘And you didn’t see Louise talking to a young man?’ O’Malley asked. ‘He was tall and obviously athletic. He probably would have stood out.’

‘No, I didn’t,’ April insisted. ‘I didn’t see her talking to anyone except the bar staff all evening.’

‘And while you were with this fella …’

‘Louise went to get drinks.’

‘And then?’

‘And then I guess … I’m not sure after that,’ April admitted. ‘She would have queued a while. You always do somewhere that serves cocktails.’

‘When was the last time you saw her?’

‘On her way over there. So I guess … before midnight.’

O’Malley paused slightly. ‘So you left with this … guy? You didn’t say goodbye to Louise?’

‘I know I should have,’ April said, with a touch of defensiveness, ‘but I was rolling drunk by that time. And sometimes you don’t make great decisions in those circumstances.’

O’Malley waited a moment, certain that April would feel compelled to say more. He wasn’t disappointed.

‘Look. Whatever Louise did after that, she didn’t end up killing some guy,’ she said, sounding frustrated. ‘She’s this warm, loving, kind person. I felt bad this morning because I worried something could have happened to her, understand? I would never in a million years worry she’d hurt someone else. So you need to send Louise home so she can sleep and recover. She probably feels like a heap of shit right now, and she should be in bed, not being grilled by some drama-hungry cops.’