Once she had finished her coffee and watched him demolish the remains of his sandwich, they headed round the corner to the Victorian terraced house. It was quite a neat place, with a small bay window overlooking a tiny patch of paved front garden. The agent, a woman of perhaps twenty-five with her dark hair in a ponytail and a navy blue trouser suit, was waiting outside and greeted them enthusiastically.

‘I think your brother is really going to enjoy this place,’ she said to Morgan, with vowels as polished as her patent leather shoes. ‘I know the rent is a little bit high for the area, but there are quite a lot of extra facilities. There is even a secluded garden to the rear, which catches the evening sun.’ She selected a key, unlocked the front door and let them in. The house was light and open-plan; there was a modern kitchen with fan oven and microwave. The agent showed them throughout the house. It looked like a perfect home for a small family.

‘It’s very nice,’ said Leticia. ‘I’m sure he’ll like it.’ It was way better than any of the halfway houses, hostels or other accommodation that she had ever seen offered to newly released prisoners.

‘The landlord is quite relaxed about some of the… special situations, especially as you’ve been kind enough to act as guarantor,’ the agent said. ‘The references all seem to be in order.’

‘Thank you,’ said Morgan.

Once they were out on the street again, and the agent had returned to her car, Leticia turned to Morgan and said: ‘That is bloody luxurious. It’s way better than my house. It’s massive. I’ve seen entire hostels to sleep half a dozen that are smaller. And none are this well equipped.’

Morgan held up his hands. ‘I know, I know. If the tabloids ever get hold of it there will be hell to pay. I looked initially at a flat in a conversion. But the guidance is clear that we can’t have him sharing a hallway with some unwitting family. Besides, we’ve got valuable information for the families of the victims, to ease their pain and give them closure. Rollason held all the trump cards and knew how to negotiate. Sometimes you just have to hold your nose and make the deal.’

Leticia shook her head as she walked back with him to her illegally parked car. ‘I’m meeting him this afternoon at the prison for the first time.’

‘Be careful. He’s very slippery, and deceptively charming. I would come with you but having two of us there would just draw attention to him among the other inmates. We’ve got to keep it low-key, understand?’

‘I know. But I’m really nervous.’ She pressed her key fob and the orange light of her Mini flashed its greeting.