Getting out of the driver’s seat, Palmer proceeded to put his foot into a deep cold puddle of slush. As quickly as his mood had lifted the cloud returned. No officer ever liked having to break the news of someone’s death to their next of kin, and this was no exception.

After knocking on the brown front door of the small brick semi, Singh heard the sound of footsteps approaching from inside.

To their surprise a woman in her twenties opened the door. She had perfectly applied make-up but too much of it, as far as both men were concerned.

‘Can I help you?’ She spoke with an Essex accent.

‘We need to speak to Mr Shane Matlock. Is he here?’ Palmer flashed his badge and noticed the look of surprise on her face.

‘I’m his girlfriend Gemma.’ She rested her hand on her small pregnancy bump to emphasise the point. ‘Is he in trouble?’

‘Is he here?’ Palmer ignored her question looking over her shoulder into the small house.

‘He’s having a nap. He had a late night with the lads.’

Stepping past her into the poky living room, Palmer told the woman she needed to go and wake her boyfriend up.

Reluctantly agreeing, Gemma climbed the stairs leaving the officers alone downstairs.

‘It’s small isn’t it,’ Palmer commented, thinking about the difference between the house they were in and the spacious barn Wendy Matlock had lived in.

Singh nodded, thinking it wasn’t that different in size from the place he rented in Cambridge.

When Shane finally appeared he looked worse for wear. He had dark bags underneath his eyes, unkempt stubble and messy hair. He wore a checked shirt and jeans.

Extending a hand to introduce himself to the officers he looked rather embarrassed.

‘Mr Matlock, sorry we woke you,’ Singh apologised, ‘but I’m afraid we have some bad news.’

At hearing those words, Shane looked even paler than he had done when he first joined them in the living room.

‘I am sorry to tell you that we were called out to New Barn on Sunday afternoon after a body was discovered by someone delivering a package.’

Shane sat on the sofa, dreading what was coming, but waiting for his fears to be confirmed.

‘We have confirmed that the deceased was Wendy Matlock. I am very sorry.’

Gemma went to her boyfriend, put her arms around him and held him tight.

‘How do you know it’s Wendy?’ Shane croaked.

‘Dental records confirmed the identity,’ Singh volunteered.

‘How did she die?’ Gemma was clearly dismayed. The officers looked at each other.

‘It is being treated as murder,’ Palmer said gravely.

‘Murder?’ Shane looked horrified. ‘How? When?’ The man was obviously distressed but was somehow managing to control his emotions.

‘Can you tell us where you were on Saturday evening?’

‘He was here with me,’ Gemma cut in quickly.