Richenda’s face is impossible to read, but I can see from the look in Cindy’s eyes that she’s starting to believe him. I’m stunned. How can there be no evidence on his phone? I’ve got reams and reams of messages from him on mine. Luke is looking at me triumphantly, and this is thankfully enough to unlock my frozen brain. There’s another possibility, of course there is, and someone like Luke wouldn’t be so careless as to leave evidence where Cindy could stumble across it. It’s a long shot if I suggest it though, because it relies on him being cocky enough to make the mistake I need him to have made. If this fails, my little remaining credibility will go up in smoke and, whatever else Cindy and Richenda think of me, I’m not prepared for them to believe I’m some kind of fantasist. Also, his remark about complaining to HR has rattled me. Although I’m sure my work colleagues would back me to the hilt, the fact is that I did stalk his mother, and that’s going to look seriously bad. God, I need this to work.

‘I’ve got a question,’ I tell them, being careful to keep my voice calm and not sound like the lunatic that Luke is trying to make me out to be. ‘I get that this is my word against Luke’s and, frankly, I don’t much care which of us you choose to believe. It makes absolutely no difference to me one way or the other. But did I overhear you telling Luke to hang up his coat when he arrived, Richenda?’

She’s looking at me warily. ‘I did. Why?’

‘Would you mind very much fetching it?’

‘Oh, for goodness’ sake!’ Luke explodes suddenly. ‘What the hell has my coat got to do with anything? I’ll get it, Tilly, but then you have to go, OK? You’ve done enough damage for one day.’

‘No,’ I tell him firmly. ‘I’ve asked Richenda to fetch it.’

Luke stares at me, evidently trying to work out what I’m up to, before the penny obviously drops because, for the first time, he looks rattled. Good, that gives me hope that my gamble is going to pay off. Richenda is clearly unsure what to do as she hesitates for a moment before going out into the hallway and returning with Luke’s coat.

‘Put it on the table, would you?’ I ask her. ‘Right,’ I tell them once the coat is spread across the coffee table. ‘I’m going to reply to this text. You can all watch to make sure there’s no funny business.’

‘We’ve already established that’s not my number,’ Luke argues, but I can tell he’s blustering now. ‘What are you expecting to achieve?’

‘Nothing,’ I say, keeping my voice light. ‘Let’s just see what happens, shall we?’