‘Mr Williams. I’m DCI Barrett and this is DI Palmer. We are here to talk to you about the death of your ex-wife.’

‘I thought you might be.’ Mike handed his daughter to Amber and sat down, placing his hands on his knees.

‘Your wife has told us you were both at home on the evening of June twenty-first. Is that correct?’

‘It certainly is.’

‘She says you had dinner together. Can you remember what you ate?’

‘Salad and a baked potato. Washed down with a nice bottle of red, if I remember correctly.’ Mike was steady in his response. Barrett took an instant dislike to the man, but told himself it was nothing to do with the fact that he was married to a very beautiful woman.

‘I’d like to talk to you about Toni.’ Barrett turned the page of his notebook. ‘Can you tell me why your marriage ended?’

Mike looked over at Amber and the two shared a moment.

‘Is that really relevant?’

‘We are looking into the victim’s life. You were a part of that for some time. I’d say that was relevant,’ Barrett sniped.

‘Very well,’ Mike sighed and crossed his arms. ‘She had an affair.’

Barrett raised an eyebrow.

‘Can you be more specific?’

‘She was fucking someone else.’ Mike eyeballed the detective who squirmed a little.

‘Who did she have an affair with?’

‘I’d rather not say.’ Mike clenched his jaw.

‘Why not? This is a murder investigation. Withholding information is a serious offence.’

‘Look, gentlemen, if you prove that her death is somehow linked to the affair, I’ll spill the beans. Until then, I am not saying anything.’ He was steely in his resolve.

‘Very well.’ Barrett adjusted his tie. ‘When did you learn of the affair?’

‘About three days before I walked out.’

‘I’m going to get Lucy a drink.’ Amber excused herself, wanting to put as much space between her body and the atmosphere as she could.

‘I see.’ It was Palmer and Barrett’s turn to share a look. ‘This is different to the information we’ve received.’

‘Oh, let me guess!’ Mike clapped his hands together loudly. ‘You’ve been speaking to Gerald.’ He said the name with obvious disdain. ‘Gerald is a fool. He believed everything Toni told him. She had him wrapped around her little finger. I almost felt sorry for the man.’

‘Mr Jones told us that your marriage to Mrs Jones ended because of your addiction to alcohol. You claim this isn’t true?’

‘Of course it’s bloody not!’ Mike’s voice grew louder. ‘That’s what she told him and those friends of hers, rather than admit she was a cheating bitch. It was a pack of lies.’

‘Without giving us the name of the man you claim your ex-wife was having an affair with, it is very difficult for us to corroborate your story.’