For a brief moment Jake felt relieved that someone who understood his dedication and capability as a detective acknowledged the difficulty of the case and that it would require additional resources. But only for a second.

‘Why are you offering?’ he asked.

Pete’s expression became pained. ‘Jake. Come on. You’ve known me your whole life. I’m not the bad guy. You have to believe me.’

Jake almost snarled. ‘You’re not the good guy here, Pete. You’re an arsehole.’

‘Jake, it’s not that big a deal.’

‘Yes, it fucking is. How could you?’

Pete looked genuinely pained. ‘You’d never understand. We’re going round in circles. Can’t things just go back to the way they were?’

Of the hundred retorts that flashed through Jake’s mind, he couldn’t bring himself to utter any of them. ‘I could do with help bagging and tagging a tissue sample from a dried piece of umbilical cord, if you like. Our interviewee has it in a locket around her neck.’

Pete didn’t hesitate. ‘I won’t ask where that came from, as long as it’s legit?’

Jake nodded. ‘She’s also consented to provide a blood sample.’

‘I have a kit in my car you could use to take the tissue sample now, and I’ll skip her blood sample to the front of the queue in the morning?’

That was a relief. ‘Sounds good.’

Pete cocked his head to one side. ‘How long are you in town?’

‘Just tonight.’

‘Why don’t you come over for dinner?’

‘Are you serious?’

‘Jake. Come on. It’ll hurt Nic if you don’t.’

‘That’s rich.’

‘Look, I misjudged …’

Jake couldn’t believe Pete was trying to discuss it again. ‘Yes, you did.’

‘I honestly thought …’

‘You thought wrong.’ Jake let his fury show. ‘How could you do that to Nic? How could you think I would be okay with you doing that to Nic?’

‘I …’

‘How many others?’

‘What?’

‘Don’t play dumb. How many others? Ten? Twenty? The whole time you’ve been married? You’re obviously practised at it.’

‘Nic knew who I was when we got together.’

‘Just fuck off, Pete.’

‘What will I tell Nic?’

‘Lie to her. Apparently you’re good at that.’

Pete winced. ‘I appreciate you not saying anything, but you really didn’t have to move states.’

Jake looked Pete squarely in the eye. ‘Yes, I did.’

Pete’s face, so similar to Jake’s, bloomed bright red beneath his freckles. ‘I’ll go get the sample kit from my car.’

Jake ordered a double whisky.

Murphy, who had been hovering on the other side of the bar, sidled up to him, grinning. ‘Did you have it away with his wife?’ he asked, wiping foam from his upper lip.

Jake’s mood darkened. ‘What?’

‘That bloke, Pete. Did you sleep with his missus?’