The prospective buyers, a Nigerian dentist and his Indian-born wife, seemed quite interested, especially now that Sam had persuaded her husband to knock ten grand off the price. After they had left, Gillard embraced his wife and suggested they go out for a meal at the local trattoria. Sam, who had picked up a couple of ready meals on her way home, quickly agreed. ‘I never say no to an offer like that, Craig. I never know when the next chance will be.’

She was about to head upstairs to change out of her jumper and jeans when her husband scooped her up and kissed her on the nose. ‘You look lovely as you are.’

‘You’re wearing a suit and tie, and I’m in trainers,’ she said.

‘The head waiter will just assume you’re my niece. Besides, if we head off right now, we can walk – it only takes twenty minutes, so we’ll still be in time for the early bird offer and we can share a bottle of wine.’

‘No early incident room meeting tomorrow, then?’ Sam asked.

‘Not so far, but things can always change.’

Sam settled for the minimum refresh of eyeliner and lipstick, and as they walked down their drive and out of the cul-de-sac, he grasped her hand. To her, it was a good sign. When Craig was relaxed he was much more fun to be with. She liked him to be hers, not a possession of Surrey Police. She could admire his professionalism and his investigative brain, but at the end of the day she loved him for the more caring side of his personality.

After their meal of seafood fettuccine and grilled halibut, followed by chocolate sponge, Sam took her husband’s hand across the table and asked what he was thinking.

‘I’ve been thinking about you. It was something that Karl-Otto Ulbricht said, about how much he regrets not having made the time in his life to answer the emails and texts that his daughter sent him. It’s the busy life, of course, and we all suffer it. God knows, I’m as bad an offender as he is, leaving everything for you to fix, from the broken window in the garage right through to showing round potential buyers for the house. But I can pay you attention, and I will.’

Sam leaned across the table, took her husband’s face between her hands and kissed him forcefully. ‘I love you, Craig. You’re a good man.’

He smiled.

‘Very few men are as nice as you, Craig. Remember my friend Ellen?’

He did. He had a very clear picture of her standing in his kitchen. ‘How is she?’

Sam’s face fell. ‘That new guy has dumped her.’

‘Oh dear.’ He began to examine the coffee and liqueur menu.

‘Craig, don’t dismiss it like that. She’s in love. And this bastard has swindled her out of her life savings.’ Sam summarised the details.

She had his attention now. ‘Has she reported it?’

Sam sighed. ‘I don’t think she is emotionally ready. She just wants him back.’ Sam reached across and grasped his hands. ‘Don’t roll your eyes, she’s very needy at the moment.’