‘I was alone. My mother was away last night.’

‘And is there a father?’ Joseph’s tone was gentler than Nikki’s, and it irritated her.

‘No. No father.’

‘And your mother was conveniently “away”?’ barked Nikki.

‘It wasn’t convenient, what ever that means. She’s a rep, for a sports equipment company. She’s often away. Now will you please tell me what the hell is going on?’

Nikki noted the shaking hands and the reddening cheeks. ‘We need to find your phone, Mr Brown. Perhaps my sergeant should help you look for it?’

‘If it’s not in my pocket, then I’ve lost it.’ Kris Brown sat back on the sofa and stared belligerently at them. ‘I hate the things. I’m always losing it. Sure, you need one living in a place like this, but I don’t often use it, and I never text!’

‘We have reason to believe that you texted Kerry Anderson last night.’ Nikki paused to see what effect her next words would have. ‘That would be just before she disappeared.’

The man gave a sharp intake of breath. ‘Oh shit! But I never sent her a text! It wasn’t me!’

‘I’m sorry, Mr Brown, but in the absence of someone to confirm your whereabouts last night, and the fact that you cannot produce your mobile, I’m afraid we are going to have to ask you to come with us to the station.’

Nikki glanced at Joseph. ‘Get him to sort his dog out, then take him to the car, Sergeant. I need to ring for uniform to get out here. I want a thorough search for that missing phone, and any other evidence of Kerry Anderson being here.’ She turned to Brown. ‘Can we have your permission for that? Or do I need to get a warrant?’

The man offered no resistance. ‘Do what you have to; no doubt you will anyway. But I promise you, I haven’t seen Kerry since we met for coffee. And I would never hurt her, never.’

‘Because you love her?’

‘Love her?’ He blinked in surprise. ‘I don’t love her. She’s my friend.’

‘Well, perhaps that’s how she wants it to be, but maybe you’d like a bit more, Kris? Did you make a move on her and she didn’t like it? Is that how it was?’

At first he didn’t answer, then Kris Brown threw her a look of utter disgust. ‘I said she’s my friend. And I meant it.’

As Joseph walked him to the car, Nikki pondered on the intonation Kris Brown had placed on the words, ‘my friend’. There was a peculiar ‘singular’ sound to it, and she was left with the distinct feeling that Kris’s other friends were few and far between. If, indeed, apart from Kerry, there were any.