Both Gemma and Shane stood at the same time. Palmer noticed how Gemma rested her hand on her bump for effect. As if her pregnancy might prevent them from asking Shane any difficult questions. ‘We’ve got nothing to hide.’ Gemma smiled sweetly.

‘I’m afraid you will have to wait out here, Miss Nash.’

The revelation that she would not be invited in to participate in the interview was not well received. Her shiny lips pursed and she tore her hand away from Shane’s.

‘What was the point in me coming?’ she huffed taking a seat again and folding her arms across her ample bosom.

‘This way please.’ Palmer led Shane away, paying no attention to the spoilt woman who was still seething in reception.

‘She’s just hormonal,’ Shane said wanting to excuse her brattish behaviour, guessing that Palmer wasn’t approving.

‘Thank you for agreeing to come and give us a DNA swab.’ Palmer opened the door to a room where an official stood waiting to take the swab. ‘It’s so that we can eliminate you from our enquiries.’

‘But I suspect my DNA is all over that house. I did used to live there.’ Shane looked nervous.

‘It appears the victim had sexual intercourse not long before her death,’ Palmer told him flatly, watching closely for any sign of a reaction.

‘Sex?’ Shane blinked with surprise. ‘With who?’

‘That’s what we intend to find out.’

Shane nodded and opened his mouth under the instruction, allowing the gloved hand to run a swab around the inside of his left cheek for a moment. The cotton wool had felt odd when it had scrapped against his teeth and he ran his tongue around his mouth, wanting to wet it again.

‘That will now be sent off to the lab,’ the officer said, popping the swab into a sealed container before leaving the room.

‘Did Wendy have a boyfriend?’ Palmer asked loosely.

‘No. She did not.’ Shane appeared offended by the question, which seemed odd given that his pregnant girlfriend was sitting not far away. ‘She would have told me.’

‘I see.’ Palmer glanced down at his watch wishing the end of the day would come around quickly. ‘So was she in the habit of sleeping with strangers?’ He was tired and looking for a reaction.

‘No,’ Shane said quietly through gritted teeth. ‘She was not like that.’

‘But you’re sure there wasn’t a boyfriend?’ Palmer was nonchalant.

‘Certain.’ Shane remained convinced.

‘Strange then, that she had had sexual intercourse before her death, wouldn’t you say?’

Shane blushed. ‘It wasn’t me.’

‘That’s what the test will confirm.’ He let the statement hand in the air long enough for Shane to think that he might be in some doubt about it.

‘Do you need me for anything else or can I go home now?’ He shifted on the spot, keen to get back to his girlfriend and out of the police station.