‘I will not recount word for word what Melissa told me, Detective Sergeant,’ Susanna said at last. ‘Even if I were minded to, you wouldn’t be able to rely on whatever I told you as being objectively true. All I will say is’ – she paused, as though giving herself one final chance to hold back – ‘is that Melissa has spent her life wrestling with the memory of something she claims she did.’

Nicky’s ears, at that, pricked up.

‘It is my belief,’ Susanna went on, ‘that Melissa has, in effect, been punishing herself – and trying to come to terms with her sense of guilt.’

Was that it, Nicky asked herself? Was that as good as Melissa making a signed confession to Ben’s murder herself?

‘And that, Detective Inspector,’ Susanna concluded, ‘is as much as I’m prepared to tell you. I’ve already shared more than I feel comfortable with, and it’s only because I believe you when you say you are trying to help Melissa that I’ve spoken to you at all. Is she … is she all right?’

Now it was Nicky’s turn to prevaricate. ‘The honest answer is, we don’t know. Which is why it’s so important that we find her. She disappeared from the shelter several days ago, and nobody has reported seeing her since. Would you have any idea about where she might have gone? Any friends she might have mentioned, or family members? I know she was estranged from her parents, but a cousin maybe, or … or anyone at all. A place, even. Somewhere she might have mentioned that you know she associated with feeling safe.’

Susanna sighed. ‘My sense is that Melissa has never truly felt safe, Detective Sergeant. Anywhere; with anyone. If she had access to the sort of refuge you seem to be referring to, I think her life would have turned out very differently.’

It was a fair point, and it made Nicky think about her conversation with Melissa’s mother – about the fact that Melissa had cut herself adrift from her family almost the moment she’d left Beaconsfield and reached adulthood.

‘Just one final question, Susanna,’ Nicky ventured, aware of the response it was likely to provoke. ‘In your professional opinion, would you say Melissa Haynes is capable of violence? Either to herself – or to others?’

The shutters came down. ‘I will not answer that, Detective Sergeant. Nor am I trained to. I am a psychotherapist, not a clinical psychologist.’

Nicky nodded her understanding. She sighed inwardly, and made to get up from her chair.

‘Although …’ Susanna added, and Nicky paused halfway to standing. ‘If my experience in life has taught me anything, it’s that we are all capable of violence if pushed to it. Melissa is no more the exception to that rule than you or I.’