The expression on Mike’s face was one I was familiar with, the face he used when he wanted people to trust him. I had learnt not to believe a word that came out of his mouth, but that facial expression worked on a lot of people; his charm was his greatest weapon. Could he have used that charm to manipulate Cassie?

‘Well, I can’t completely remember,’ he said, running a hand over his short hair. ‘It’s a bit blurry.’

‘Try your best,’ Forest said, her tone sharp. Mike picked up on this and frowned.

‘What’s going on here? I thought you just wanted to take my statement.’

‘And that’s exactly what we’re doing, if you’d stop avoiding the question.’

Mike hesitated, but then I saw his shoulders relax. ‘I was in the residence, just checking some paperwork, and I heard the door open behind me. Before I had a chance to turn round and see who it was, I felt like I’d been punched in the arm. I fell over and hit my head.’ He gave a little shrug and a smug smile. ‘That’s all I remember until I was being wheeled into the ambulance.’

‘You didn’t see your attacker at all?’

‘No, they were behind me the whole time.’

Forest nodded, her lips pursed. ‘Hmmm. Okay. And there was nothing else that could help you identify them? They didn’t speak to you? You didn’t catch a glimpse of their shoes as you passed out, anything like that?’

Mike wrinkled his brow as if he were thinking. ‘Now you mention it, I think I saw their shoes. They were black, and quite small. And I felt their fingernails graze against my neck. Maybe they were quite long?’ His expression had now changed to one of earnest helpfulness, but once again I was convinced he was lying. I hoped the detectives could see it too.

‘Let me check I’ve got this right,’ Forest said smoothly. ‘Just before you passed out, you saw that your attacker was wearing black shoes and had small feet. And you felt long fingernails scratch your neck. Is that correct?’

‘Yes,’ Mike said assertively.

‘Why haven’t you mentioned this before now?’

‘I only just remembered. Your questions prompted me to remember.’

‘Oh, I am glad,’ Forest said, and the sheer force of the sarcasm made me realise that she had another agenda. Whatever it was, I didn’t think it was going to reflect well on Mike.

‘What about if I asked you if you’d smelled their perfume or aftershave, do you think you’d be able to remember that, too?’

Mike looked puzzled. ‘I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about it.’

‘Or if I asked you whether a specific person looked you in the eyes before trying to kill you, would you remember that too?’