I smiled. It can’t have been an easy thing to admit. ‘I would appreciate it if you would tell your guys not to discuss the man’s identity with anyone. We don’t want it leaking into the media until we’ve notified his next-of-kin.’ Suzie came to mind. No doubt she’d be sniffing around any moment. ‘Was Patrick Ryan scheduled to work today?’

‘Uh-huh.’

‘Was he in yesterday?’

‘His shift finished at 6 p.m.’ He began rolling another cigarette. ‘Manor House HQ is at Canary Wharf, if you need them. Patrick was a nice bloke. This is awful. He had a daughter similar in age to mine.’

I caught the anguish in his voice.

‘He used to show me photos of her, and I could tell how much he loved her.’ He coughed to cover his sniff, and turned away from me. ‘The Manor House bosses are shouting about delays. Time. Money. It’s a billion-pound project with massive penalties for late completion of works. No excuse. And all I can think about is that Patrick’s kid is going to grow up without a dad.’ He kicked at the kerb with his boot. ‘I don’t know what the police is like as an employer but people in my world aren’t interested in human factors. They shake them down the line. Make sure that we all feel responsible.’ He snorted. ‘Over-sodding-responsible, more like.’

I knew what he meant. It was how the police worked too. ‘We will release the crime scene as quickly as we can.’

‘I appreciate that.’ His eyes were bloodshot. ‘I’m lucky. I’ve still got my missus. After all he’s been through, Patrick has done amazingly. I can’t believe this has happened to him.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘It’s not really my place to tell you. His ex will fill you in, I’m sure. Nice lady.’

I was curious. ‘I’ll ask her. Did Ryan have any enemies at work? Recent fall-outs?’

‘Not that I know of. He was a popular staff member. A people-person, you know? He got on well with the labourers and the bosses. Not everyone can do that.’ He shook his head and started to make the next phone call.

Dan re-appeared at the site entrance, out of breath from running. He clocked the foreman, so I walked to meet him. ‘Just talked to Chris Thomas. Ryan has a tattoo on his arm, saying “Amanda”. It’s his daughter’s name.’

‘Has Chris told anyone who the victim is?’

‘He says he hasn’t but he was pretty cagey. I’ve just rung the personnel office. Ryan was divorced. His wife has re-married, and lives in Mile End with their daughter. Ryan lived in a shared house in Bromley-by-Bow. I’ve sent a uniformed officer round to his ex-wife to notify her of the death, and a team is on its way to search Ryan’s home address.’