Dan was processing what she was saying. Her ex-husband’s experiences were tragic but weren’t uncommon. If he felt unworthy, perhaps the labouring jobs had suited him better? Rather than being catapulted into success, he’d had to work his way up and earn the respect of his peers on the site.

And that made his murder all the sadder.

But it didn’t help them with what was important, and that was finding out how Patrick Ryan’s death was linked to the arson.

Maya, 12.30 p.m.

Maya, 12.30 p.m.

Having stormed off in a huff, it was a relief to be surrounded by strangers in Mile End Park, where I could gather my thoughts. I was annoyed with myself for getting into an argument with Dan, but I couldn’t let go of the feeling that we had a duty of care towards Ali. As I walked towards the play area, dragging my heels in the grass, only patches of morning dew remained. Most had evaporated under the clear skies and dappled April sunlight.

At the bottom of the slide, a man was standing with a teenager. He looked relaxed and happy as he watched two girls. ‘That’s it,’ he called over encouragingly to the young girl who was perching at the top of the slide, clinging onto the frame. ‘We’ll catch you.’ He was wearing a quilted jacket in navy blue with a brown corduroy collar, and dark jeans. He wasn’t my idea of handsome, but this was exactly how Nicola had described her ex-husband.

‘Mr Grant? Alan Grant?’

He turned at the sound of his name, almost as if he’d been waiting for this moment.

‘I’m DI Rahman. Could I speak to you for a moment, please?’ I didn’t want to mention Patrick Ryan by name, or the murder.

‘Er, sure. Hold on.’ He faced the teenager. ‘Mand, honey, can you look after your sister for a few minutes? Maybe take her on the swings.’ He waited ’til the young girl was down from the slide and watched Amanda install her sister safely on the seat.

I led him over to the trampoline where we could talk without being overheard. ‘I’m leading the investigation into Patrick Ryan’s death. My sergeant is talking to Nicola. Did you see much of Patrick?’

‘Every couple of weeks. He would pick Amanda up from the flat when it was his turn to have her. Before that, he was often at the Saturday Soup thing that Nicola helps with, for the homeless. I usually drop her off there and collect her, especially when it’s cold. Saw him there several times.’

‘How were things between you and Patrick?’