‘I think she means Sir William Penny. He’s local. They were friends.’

‘That’s what Mr McFaul says.’

‘Then I’m guessing it’s true.’

‘You’ve met this man, Bill?’

‘Yes.’

‘And how would you describe the relationship between them?’

‘I’ve just told you. They were friends, all three of them, McFaul included.’

‘So, what does “plot twist” mean?’

I say nothing. This conversation is becoming an interview, direct questions sharpened by something I can only describe as aggression, and I’m starting to wonder whether we’re being recorded when Hollick seems suddenly to relax. I can only guess at her age – early thirties or older – but she clearly works out. She has the skin tone and the physical confidence of a trained athlete, and the last time I saw cheekbones this pronounced was in a fashion magazine.

‘Plot twist?’ she says again, but more gently this time.

‘I’ve honestly no idea. If you’re hinting at some kind of relationship, that would be a guess on your part. In French we use the term to describe a bend in the road. Most of the time it’s unexpected. Maybe that’s why she uses the word “surprise”.’

‘But you know this woman. It says so. Second paragraph. She’s gone, Ms Andressen, she’s disappeared, and as far as we can tell, you’re the one person for whom she’s left any kind of note.’

‘I knew her for a couple of days,’ I say quietly. ‘It’s true we liked each other a lot but it’s hardly a lifetime.’

‘Two days?’ This appears to be news to Hollick.

‘A Friday and a Saturday,’ I confirm. ‘Talk to my friend Evelyn. Check with McFaul.’

‘We will.’ She nods, scribbling herself a note, and then looks up again. ‘First sight? Would that be fair? Accurate?’

‘Love, you mean?’ I’m laughing now. ‘This is bizarre. Two women meet. I’m half-French. She’s the real thing. We have a lot in common. We talk. We get on. She shows me around the town. She introduces me to friends. One of them happens to be Sir William, Bill as she calls him. And that’s about it.’

‘McFaul says you invited her up to London.’

‘That’s true. I did.’

‘Why?’

‘Because we liked each other. Because there was a spark there.’

‘And?’ It’s a very good question, much shrewder than I’ve anticipated, and Hollick gives me all the time I need to frame an answer.

‘To be honest, there were things she wasn’t telling me.’

‘That’s an impression you had?’

‘Yes.’

‘What kind of things?’

I frown. This is harder, more complex. Hollick offers a prompt.

‘To do with McFaul? The relationship?’

‘Maybe. Maybe not. Hard to tell.’

‘Something else, then?’