‘So, your intuition would be that he’s not capable of murder?’

‘I doubt it, frankly. And particularly not that particular murder. He’s just a big kid. He showed me pictures of him teaching disabled kids to play cricket. It was the only time I was there that he really smiled. I think that is what he’d like to do. He’s clearly bored by his job, but has got used to the money that comes from being in the family firm.’

‘Well, thank you as always, Gabby, for your insight.’

He was about to ring off when she said; ‘Oh, I nearly forgot. The most interesting thing that happened was before I even got there, as I was coming up in the lift. The doors had opened onto the top floor and I heard someone shouting, and it wasn’t Harry, but I think it was at Harry. I didn’t really understand it, but perhaps it means something to you.’

‘What did you hear?’

‘It was: “—if you learned to keep it zipped, you wouldn’t have to worry, would you? So you’re in no position to threaten me. I’m making you all a fortune, remember? Not that I get any thanks for it.” Then the door slammed and the man who said it walked past me and into the lift. He did seem angry.’

‘Did you recognise him?’

‘No, but I did lean out of the window and get a photograph of the car he drove away in. With a bit of enlargement we should be able to get some clue about the number plate.’

‘Well done,’ Gillard said. ‘So what was your take on it?’

‘Harry is having an affair, presumably.’

‘I wouldn’t rush to that conclusion. He could have meant that Harry should have kept his mouth shut. Keep it zipped can also refer to that.’

‘Maybe it’s about Morag?’ she said enthusiastically. ‘That fits into the idea of the private detective watching him and her.’

‘Perhaps. But I still don’t get what was so unsuitable about Morag, why they hated that relationship so much. I take it you didn’t ask Harry about what you overheard?’

‘I think that’s above my pay grade, sir.’

Gillard laughed. ‘Quite right, Gabby. I’m sure you wouldn’t have got a straight answer anyway, and neither would I. But at least what you overheard gives us a handhold to get on the inside of this family.’

‘I’m good at listening, sir.’

He gave her an approving look. ‘Yes, I know you are.’

Claire Mulholland’s search of Jason Waddington’s terraced house went smoothly. The warrant was issued quickly and there was nobody present at the property to get in the way. A CSI transit van was backed up to the house so that bin bags full of bedding and the plastic bags containing his electronic gear could be quickly loaded. Claire peered into the spare bedroom, where a female member of CSI was on her hands and knees in a Tyvek suit, going through the wastepaper bin at the side of the single bed.