‘Once we’ve identified him, we’ll try to get some images from social media,’ Hanson said. ‘Sometimes it’s hard to recognise someone when …’ She nodded instead of finishing the sentence.

‘OK,’ Louise said. ‘But I’m pretty sure. I mean, he’s big, isn’t he? Tall and … and strong. I don’t know anyone like that.’ Again that twist of the mouth. ‘And Niall’s friends are all middle-aged GPs or lawyers.’

‘Is Niall your husband?’ Jonah asked.

‘Oh. Yes. He’s away until later today. Conference in Geneva.’

‘Do you work too?’ Hanson asked.

‘God, yes. I’d never be a housewife. I’d go crazy.’ Louise laughed, slightly nervously. Her eyes travelled to Jonah again and back. ‘I’m a musician.’

Hanson grinned. ‘That’s great. Modern or …?’

‘I’m a harpist.’ Louise jerked her head towards the hall. ‘My music room’s through there.’

‘Can you tell me how you found him?’ This from Jonah.

There was a clear change of expression. Louise retied her dressing gown over herself before saying, ‘Sure.’ It was a tight, constricted word. ‘I woke up just before six thirty, really hungover. I had my friend April round last night, and she’s a massive drinker.’ She smiled slightly. ‘Terrible influence. I always end up wrecked when we hang out.’

‘She didn’t stay here?’ Hanson asked.

‘No.’ Louise shook her head. ‘She usually goes home.’

‘So it was just you last night,’ Hanson confirmed.

‘Yes,’ Louise said. ‘Just me.’ She paused, finding her thread again. ‘So I woke up early feeling like shit. I wanted to make tea so I went to get the milk from outside. We have proper deliveries here. In bottles.’ She suddenly shook her head. ‘Sorry.’

‘It’s OK,’ Hanson said. ‘There’s no rush.’

‘So I saw this … shape on the lawn. And I couldn’t quite process it at first. And then I went to see and … and I called the police.’

‘And you didn’t see anyone else out there?’ Jonah asked. ‘Anyone on the street?’

‘No …’ She shook her head, and then said, ‘But I thought … Maybe it’s not much use, but I think I got woken up in the early hours by a loud car engine.’

‘What time was that?’

‘I don’t know …’ She looked off to one side. ‘I’m not sure if I checked. A while before. Could have been four a.m.’

‘The victim wasn’t there when your friend left?’

‘No, definitely not,’ she said, twisting her hands over each other. ‘Shit, I could never have gone to bed with …’

‘What time was that?’

Louise gave him a slightly confused look, and then said, hesitantly, ‘I’m not – I suppose midnight.’

‘And there’s nothing else you can remember?’

‘No,’ she said. ‘Sorry.’