‘How long had you been a close friend of Mr Western?’ Graham continued without adding any false compliments to the already sickly conversation.

Lively was grateful for that small mercy.

‘Ten years, give or take.’

‘I don’t suppose you know or have ever met a man called Bruce Jenson?’ Graham asked.

‘I know the name. He’s the poor soul whose funeral Gilroy was supposed to attend. I never met him, but I understand he was in a bad state even before what happened to him.’

‘He was, I’m afraid. Who told you?’

‘Gilroy mentioned it. Said Mr Jenson was probably better off dead given the dementia. That’s no way to go, is it, unable to recognise your own family? I’d rather be put out of my misery.’ She looked up at Graham, reddening slightly.

‘That’s okay,’ he reassured her. ‘I’m sure lots of people would agree with you. We did find an item in Mr Western’s car – a pair of diamond earrings, gift-wrapped but not labelled – do you know anything about them?’

A slow smile spread across Maisy’s face. ‘They’d have been for me,’ she said. ‘He always brings me jewellery, and diamonds are my favourite. I wondered what he was bringing me this time. He promised it would be something wonderful.’

‘I see. So what sort of gifts has he brought you in the past?’ Graham asked casually.

‘Last time he took me out clothes shopping. It was mainly lingerie – I prefer real silk – but also some shoes, a handbag and a couple of dresses. I told him I was expecting something shinier this time. Sounds as if he obliged.’

‘Did he ever give you cash?’

She gave a slight cough. ‘He’s helped me out with my rent in the past and car payments, things like that. Like friends do. I’m no good at managing money. It just flows through my hands!’

Maisy gave brittle laugh and Lively realised she was still trying to pretend she was something other than a prostitute. Fair enough, he thought. When he looked in the mirror he still tried to pretend he had the body of a stunt double and wasn’t the wrong side of middle age. Everyone lied to themselves about something.

‘Miss Gunnach, we need to establish where all parties who were closely attached to Mr Western were the night before he died. I don’t suppose you’d be able to recall what you were doing from 6 p.m. the night before he was due to see you. I know it’s difficult to account for such a lengthy period of time, but …’

‘Actually, it’s not,’ Maisy said quietly. ‘I know exactly where I was.’

‘That was easy,’ Lively interrupted. ‘Are you sure about this, because we’ll need to check out whatever you tell us. Just to give fair warning.’