The basement of Alexia and Dominque’s former home was a miserable red-bricked cavity with a raised section at the bottom of the stairwell which looked out onto a sunken area filled with grey water. It wasn’t clear where the flood had come from but Priest wondered if it was the reason why the house had been abandoned.

Rowlinson’s team had rigged up an array of floodlights at the bottom of the stairwell that enabled the four SOCO technicians to bustle around Alexia Elias who was laid horizontally across the raised section, her legs dangling in the murky water. Priest stood at the back on the platform next to Rowlinson. There were three people in salopettes wading through the water, including the crime scene manager and the duty pathologist, a wiry man in his late fifties named O’Connell. The water was up to his waist.

‘Wherever you are, Priest, dead people spring up,’ Rowlinson observed. He was leaning against the wall chewing on something and watching the techs working.

‘I’m just lucky I guess,’ Priest replied.

They were standing at the foot of the stairwell in a safe zone delineated with chalk. Rowlinson looked at the body. ‘What do you think about the face?’

‘Unpleasant.’

‘Somebody’s sent us a message. Or sent you a message, perhaps?’

‘Uh-huh.’

Rowlinson paused, then said, ‘How did you know it was her?’

‘That horrible cardigan and she was wearing the same watch in court. It’s a Jaeger-LeCoultre. Probably worth ten grand.’

O’Connell had climbed out of the water and knelt down next to the body. He gently turned Alexia’s head and for a moment Priest caught a glimpse of her distorted face. I’ve never seen anything like that before. Beside him, Rowlinson was still chewing.

‘Tell me,’ said Rowlinson. ‘How did you find her?’ Priest didn’t reply but passed Rowlinson the photograph they had found at Simeon’s flat. The DCI took it and held it up to the light. Nodded slowly. ‘Where did you find this?’

‘Simeon’s flat.’

‘You mean your flat, that Simeon Ali rented from you.’ Priest didn’t reply but watched as O’Connell lifted Alexia’s head to allow further pictures to be taken. One thing’s for sure, this improves our chances of getting an adjournment on Monday.

‘Jesus, Priest, I told you to fucking communicate with me.’

‘I rang you, didn’t I?’ Priest pointed out. From the look he received back, he suspected Rowlinson hadn’t appreciated his flippancy.

‘Where’s your bag carrier?’

‘Georgie? Giving one of your uniforms a statement outside. I told her to wait in the car after that.’

‘The DSI will want me to interview you formally this time around, Priest. You know that, right?’

‘Have you come across my ex-wife yet?’