‘Yes, it was!’ she thundered, grabbing a towel from the rail and wrapping it around herself. ‘Even if it was hard giving it back, why the hell are you still in possession of the other items? Do you take them out and look at them? Do you think about what happened to us? Reginald King killed at least three women and ruined the lives of the two who survived, and here you are with mine and their possessions secreted in the bottom of your bathroom cabinet. It’s like you want to be able to remind yourself of it.’

‘You know that’s not true.’

‘Honestly, I have no idea what to think. Ten minutes ago I’d have sworn I knew you as well as I know myself. I’d have staked my career on you being as honest and straightforward as anyone I’ve ever met. God, I am literally currently staking my career on that! Even if I could accept your relationship with me as an explanation for having the slate, the other two women were taken first. Why take their belongings? Mine was just a continuation of the pattern. It’s just … I don’t even know what it is. Fucking creepy, if I’m honest.’

‘Don’t do this, you know you can trust me …’

‘What did you do with it, my slate?’ she asked softly.

‘Come on, Ava, this is out of context.’

‘I’m serious. Has it been in here the whole time?’

‘That’s insane. I didn’t know what I was doing when I took those things. They’re shoved in the bottom of a cupboard because I was trying to forget I ever took them. You know it’s standard procedure to go through a missing person’s belongings when they’re taken.’

‘Bullshit,’ she said. ‘You knew who’d kidnapped me. If there was any doubt about it, relevant items would have been put into evidence, not sneaked back here to your bedroom without any authority at all. Is this part of some bizarre fantasy where you play the hero? You rescue me, know everything about me, making it easier to seduce me?’

‘That’s not fair. I didn’t plan this and you know it, and I sure as hell didn’t target you. You’re here willingly, remember? It’s not like I dragged you through the front door.’

‘Of course not. You’re Luc Callanach. You don’t have to drag women anywhere. They throw themselves at you like mindless bloody dolls. Well, apologies for being so predictable and pathetic.’

She barged past him and strode into the bedroom, gathering clothes as she went before marching into the lounge to get dressed.

‘Don’t leave. We have to sort this out, Ava, not least because we still have to work together and we’re in the middle of an investigation.’