Kesey raised one eyebrow, willing him to get to the point. His mind seemed to wander. Maybe it was the opioids. ‘You were going to tell me what you saw.’

He looked back at her with haunted eyes that had seen too much death and destruction in the name of queen and country. ‘I saw a woman walking up the street. Someone I hadn’t seen before. She walked up the Wellers’ driveway, through the gate at the side of the house, and into the back garden. That was it, and I didn’t see her again. And I didn’t think much about it at the time. I’d just taken a swig of temazepam syrup to take the edge off. It doesn’t help me sleep much any more. Too many memories, too many flashbacks, but it stops the pain for a time. That’s the best I can hope for these days. We take so much for granted until it’s taken away. I know I did.’

‘Are you certain you saw this woman enter the Wellers’ back garden that same night? I need you to think very carefully before answering. Your information could be crucial.’

He took a deep breath, filling his lungs, casting his mind back to that night, picturing events behind his tired eyes, a part of him doubting his capacity for accurate recollection. ‘Yeah, some idiot was shouting in the street, banging on the Wellers’ door, and then the police turned up. I saw the woman about half an hour or so after that. I can’t be certain of the time. Memories don’t always come in straight lines any more. Pain medication can do that for you. It fucks up your thinking.’

Kesey tilted her head to the ceiling. ‘But you are certain it was that night, yes?’

‘Yeah, it was. It stuck in my mind. I wondered what she was doing out and about at that time. I can remember that much, her and the foxes.’

‘You said you hadn’t seen her before. Is there any way it could have been Megan Weller?’

His reply was immediate. ‘No, no way. It wasn’t her, no way at all.’

‘But you are sure it was a woman you saw, yes?’

He hesitated before answering. ‘Yeah, I think so.’

Kesey dropped her chin to her chest. ‘You said, “I think so”, not “I know so”. That suggests you’re less than certain.’

‘Yeah, that’s the thing, it’s strange, fuck knows, to be honest.’

‘Take your time, Mr Gavin. Can I get you that hot drink I offered? Maybe take a break before we continue?’

He shifted his position in the chair, trying to get comfortable. ‘A glass of water would be appreciated.’

‘I’ll be back with you in two minutes.’

Gavin accepted the glass gratefully on Kesey’s return, washing down two strong painkillers before placing the empty glass on the small table in front of him.

‘You were telling me about the person you saw.’

‘They looked like a woman, they were dressed like a woman, but there was something about them that made me think it may have been a man in drag.’