‘I’m Johnny Lam, and this is my legal team,’ he said, gesturing behind him. They all sat at a large oval table, Lam flanked by his attorneys, who laid out tape recorders and notepads. ‘So sorry that you have been kept waiting. I think you know why I’m so busy.’ Lam slid his phone across to the detectives. The real-time share price of Empire of Spice Plc was displayed, winking blue or red as the price fluctuated up and down. ‘So I’d appreciate it if you kept this brief.’

‘I’ll get straight to the point, then,’ Gillard said. ‘I’m here today for one reason only, and it relates to the death of Mrs Roy.’

Lam nodded, his attention drawn to the phone, and then back to Gillard’s face.

‘I take it you confirm that the takeover offer is from your company?’ Shireen said.

‘Mr Lam does not have to disclose—’ one of the suits said.

Lam waved his advice away. ‘Yes. It’s my bid.’

‘What price are you offering?’ she continued.

‘That isn’t public knowledge,’ Lam replied, looking to his associates for backup. They shook their heads in agreement, ‘It’s a share swap, whose value depends on the value of my own company’s shares offered in exchange.’

‘It’s normal to offer a cash alternative too, isn’t it?’ she persisted.

Lam’s smile weakened. ‘Yes, but I don’t see what relevance this has to the murder—’

‘We’ll determine the relevance,’ Gillard interrupted. ‘Would you prefer this conversation to continue in a police interview room?’

Lam shrugged. ‘The cash offer is 646 pence a share.’

Shireen checked her own phone. ‘That’s 25 per cent below yesterday’s closing price, Mr Lam, and 34 per cent below the current price.’

‘You see how much market sensitive information you currently possess?’ Lam asked, steepling his hands. ‘The market doesn’t know, but you do. Be very careful.’

‘We also know about the £108 million liability in the accounts,’ Shireen said. ‘I can guess, from the lowballed bid, that you do too.’

The businessman’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, and he exchanged looks with his lawyers. ‘A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, young lady.’

‘Can we wrap this up? Mr Lam has a series of urgent meetings in the next hour,’ said one of the attorneys.

Gillard leaned forward. ‘Mr Lam, you have been trying to buy Empire of Spice Holdings for at least a decade, have you not?’

He nodded, a slight grin playing on his face.

‘Mrs Tanvi Roy was implacably opposed to selling, not just to you, I understand, but to anyone. Now she’s dead, the company seems minded to entertain your offer. To my way of thinking that changed view makes you one of the few people with the motive to kill her.’

Johnny Lam roared with laughter, and it looked genuine. ‘That is one of the most simplistic and absurd statements I’ve ever heard.’ The smile vanished, to be replaced by a pointed finger. ‘I adored Tanvi. She was a delight, a very good friend, and an extremely astute businesswoman. I was mortified when I heard of her murder. But I’m also a businessman. It was clear to me that there was a lack of management depth to take Empire of Spice forward to the next level. It was only when I looked more closely at the state of trading that I realised how the company had taken a wrong turning, and, indeed, the sooner someone with vision and experience took control, the better for all stakeholders.’