‘Not really,’ I say. ‘It’s his final fuck-you to me. That’s all it is.’

And yet, what part did Sabine play in this? Why did she disappear? Time seems to be strengthening these questions, not weakening them. I’ve tried to find her as well, but she seems to have vanished into thin air. It suddenly strikes me that Kush didn’t like her from the start. I thought he was just being weird or jealous. Now I wonder if he wasn’t trying to tell me something after all.

Beving sighs, leans back in his chair and folds his arms. I reckon he’s just pissed off because I didn’t get him any dirt on Vermeer.

‘Okay, this is where we’re at. Benner is awaiting trial for the murder of Marianne Kleine. In addition he has been charged with Arson with Intent to Kill, and Attempted Murder in the case of Klaas Blok. But the decision has been made, and at a higher pay grade than mine, I might add, to leave the murder of Dirk Zeeman as open. As of now your client is no longer an official suspect, but that may change as we pursue this case. It would be wise not to book any foreign travel in the foreseeable future. Any questions?’

I glance across at Vermeer, her face unreadable.

‘No. No questions.’

Outta here.

Sliding the key into the lock sets off a crazy scramble. He skids round the corner just as I get the door open, slides into the wall and then launches himself at me, front paws on my chest, claws like nails, tail whacking the designer radiator. Note to self, I need to figure out how to clip his claws. The vet had done it last, but that was a while ago and they seem to have grown. I’d got out of the shower the day Joel was heading to the airport and he’d asked me who the foxy female was who’d scratched up my chest.

I get some food from the cupboard and it’s obviously a religious experience for him. He becomes still, rapt, following my moves with an intense stare. Once the bowl’s on the floor, though, decorum goes out the window. He has his snout in it fast, chomping and crunching, eyes open but unseeing.

My phone buzzes on the kitchen counter, a message from Vermeer asking if we can meet later. In the aftermath of Benner’s arrest and my release we’d discussed going after DH Biotech. We’d assembled everything we’d got and taken it to the prosecutor. She’d taken one look at it and called in her legal advisers. We went back the next day when she told us the advice had been, basically, no way. We’d need so much more than what we’d got.