He narrows his eyes and then changes his mind. ‘I fell out with the landlady.’

She waits, hoping he’ll continue, and he obliges. ‘She didn’t like the relationship I had with her daughter who, in fact, became my wife. Not that we’re married anymore. Are you?’

‘No.’ She shifts uncomfortably and moves on by asking him about his work.

‘Think Arthur Daley,’ he replies, ‘or Del Boy. Wheeling and dealing.’

‘Really?’

He laughs. ‘Actually, I was a supplier of goods to businesses.’

‘Local businesses?’

‘Yes, mainly. Second-hand dealerships, bookshops, that type of thing.’

She lets this information sink in and makes a guess. ‘Did you supply books to Thomas Littleton?’

He looks surprised. ‘Yes, I did.’

‘How long did you live at number 24?’

‘Not long. I moved there in the summer, got married three or four months after that and we went to live with the mother-in-law – the aforesaid landlady.’ He makes a face, rolling his eyes, which Marina pretends not to notice.

He looks at her curiously. ‘Why do you need to know this?’

‘Background information.’ She smiles sweetly, feeling only vaguely guilty at the lie. ‘I want to get the story right and it sounds as if you have an excellent memory.’

Her flattery works. He puffs himself up.

The waitress comes and sets down his food. While he eats, Marina warms her hands on the second mug of coffee and makes small talk. She has a list of questions in her head, but she doesn’t want to spook Victor, so when he finishes and is smoking again, she skips most of them and gets to the point.

‘Eileen Clarke who lived in Flat 2 found the baby. Did you know her?’

‘Oh yes. Wild as they come.’

She ignores his comment. ‘Do you know where she is now?’

‘No idea. Like I said, I only lived in the flat for a few months – but she was American so I suppose she might have gone home.’

‘Were you in the house when they found the baby?’

He gives a surreptitious glance at the counter and then takes a silver hip flask from his pocket and pours liquid into his tea. ‘No. I was staying the night at my old digs – with my girlfriend – the aforesaid.’ He winks.

She leaves the topic alone. ‘What do you remember about the other tenants?’ She glances at her notes. ‘How about Dorothy Light?’

He pulls a face. ‘Vinegary woman. Always snooping about, far too close to the landlord.’ He raises his eyebrows. ‘If you know what I mean.’

‘They were having an affair?’

‘Most people thought so.’

If Marina was worried about Victor not wanting to talk, she isn’t now. He is a man who likes the sound of his own voice. She presses ahead. ‘So, she wasn’t married.’

‘Separated.’

‘She lived alone?’