‘Is that it?’

‘Did you hear what I just said?’

‘So he’s had relationships before. They don’t always end well. So what?’

‘It ended so badly he had to leave his job, Tilly. That’s suss, don’t you think? I mean, he’s told you he left voluntarily because he had to come south to look after his mum, but that doesn’t seem to be the whole story, does it? If it were me, I’d want to know more about that.’

She’s unbelievable, and I can feel my temper rising. Not only has she gone behind my back on some mission to prove that my boyfriend is somehow up to no good, but all she’s found is a relationship that ended in flames. I’m a little surprised that Luke never mentioned it, but maybe he’s not ready to talk about it yet.

‘Are you still there?’ she asks.

‘Yes,’ I tell her crossly. ‘But what are you expecting me to do? He had a bad break-up. I mean, it’s hardly bloody front page of the tabloids stuff, is it? You’ve stuck your nose in where it doesn’t belong and that’s all you’ve found?’

‘You don’t think that’s sketchy as hell?’

‘No!’

‘Well, that’s up to you, but I’d definitely check out the mother if it were me. Something doesn’t add up here and she might just be the key to it. If she’s as he described then all good. But if she’s not the real reason he’s come south, then there’s something he’s not telling you.’

‘And when you say “check out”, what did you have in mind, Sherlock?’

‘I don’t know. Knock on her door, see who answers. Pretend you’re doing door-to-door sales or something.’

‘For God’s sake, Tash, listen to yourself. Even if I believed he was up to no good, which I don’t, there are hundreds of flats along Monson Road. I’m not knocking on every door, and how would I even begin to know when I’d got the right one? I have no idea what she looks like or anything.’

She’s still unrepentant. ‘Way ahead of you there,’ she says smugly, ratcheting my anger up another notch. ‘Greg tracked her down using the electoral register. There’s only one Milne on Monson Road.’

I’m speechless.