The Met detective Rhona had never encountered before. She assumed he was here to hopefully identify the victim as the owner of the credit cards, Londoner Olivia Newton Richardson.

In no way was that going to be possible visually because of the fire damage to her face. When a disappointed Cleverly had mentioned the possibility of digital reconstruction, Sissons had immediately declared that that was for others to discuss and not here in his mortuary.

‘One assumes the Met can use her dental report to help establish her identity,’ he’d finished, his voice slick with sarcasm.

Rhona had noted a twinkle in McNab’s eyes at that point, plus she was certain he wore a smile behind his mask. So whatever the reason for the Met officer being there didn’t sit well with McNab.

Undaunted by Sissons’s sharp response, Cleverly had then tried to establish whether she’d been set alight or had committed suicide, whereupon the pathologist had told him to speak to Dr MacLeod about that as she had collected the scene-of-crime evidence.

As the pathologist declared them ready to open up the body, Cleverly indicated he would like to speak to Dr MacLeod and DS McNab outside.

So here they were.

His suit now discarded, Rhona could get a proper look at the man who was likely McNab’s current nemesis. A native Londoner by his voice, he wore the air of someone here on sufferance. He also asked a great many questions, while not obviously keen to answer any that were directed at him.

Rhona explained that for the moment the crime-scene evidence suggested a third party was involved. Plus the victim had been kept in the top flat prior to her death.

‘She had been bound to the bed and the bed had been doused in petrol. So when she escaped or was taken downstairs, she was already covered in accelerant.’

McNab shot Rhona a look that suggested she curtail the details. So it wasn’t all about sharing. At least not at this point.

‘Why were the cards undamaged?’

‘A leather handbag was found under the body. The wallet and cards were inside. As you’re probably aware, leather doesn’t burn.’

‘And the mobile?’ Cleverly said as though he knew of one’s existence already.

‘There was a mobile, which I switched off and put in a Faraday bag as protocol dictates,’ Rhona said, growing increasingly wary of Cleverly’s tone.

McNab came in at that point as though intent on taking the heat off her. ‘We’re examining the mobile, along with the connection between Ms Richardson and the company we think she’s linked to, Go Wild.’

Rhona’s ears pricked up at this. ‘You think the victim definitely had something to do with Go Wild?’

McNab nodded. ‘Why?’