We were keeping it quiet because Steve didn’t want any of the other staff to think it was inappropriate, or that he was abusing his position, Jessica continued, swallowing hard. And some of them would have been bound to accuse him of favouritism. It was easier to hide it. If things had got more serious, maybe it would have been different, but it was still early days. She pulled a tissue out of her pocket and wiped her nose. I said goodbye to him on Friday afternoon, just before they went on the trip. That was the last time I saw him. I went home after that, and he said he’d call me on Saturday if he got the chance.

‘Did he say anything to you about any concerns? Anything about the trip?’ Forest pushed.

No, nothing. In fact, he told me he was looking forward to it.

‘You hadn’t made any plans to see him once they were back on Sunday?’

She shook her head. I’d been to his a couple of times, but I was busy this weekend. It was my future sister-in-law’s hen party on Saturday. We were out for most of the day and I stayed over at hers. I didn’t hear the news from Liz until Sunday morning.

DS Singh noted down the other woman’s name and address, presumably to check Jessica’s alibi.

‘What about anyone who might want to harm Steve?’ Forest asked. ‘Can you think of anything he said that suggested he might have an enemy?’

She shook her head. Never. I mean … She bit her lip, then her gaze fell on the closed door to the corridor before she looked back at the detectives. Mike is my ex. He’s definitely the jealous type, and if he’d found out about me and Steve, maybe he might have said something to Steve. But I’m certain he didn’t know.

I caught my breath at the mention of Mike, then felt irritated at myself. What did it matter if he’d dated one of his colleagues? Had he treated her as badly as he’d treated me, or had he learnt his lesson?

‘Why are you so certain?’ Singh asked. I thought I heard a note of scepticism in his voice, but I had a feeling I knew what Jessica’s answer would be.

Because he would have kicked off the moment he found out. He’s not the sort of person to bide his time and let it stew. Unless Steve had some mad idea to cosy up to Mike in the middle of a trip and tell him about us, there’s absolutely no way Mike had anything to do with it.