While he called the kitchen Kate pulled the damp towel around her more tightly, catching sight of herself in the mirror opposite the bed. She frowned. She looked terrible. Patrick sat beside her on the bed.

‘I’m sorry about that Markham bloke.’

‘Oh, don’t remind me about it, please.’

He kissed her bare shoulder.

‘If only we’d checked the blood tests before we put the finger on him, Pat. I feel such a bloody fool, but I would have sworn on a stack of bibles he was our man. The snuff movies, the books. It all fitted in. He’d even been in prison for attempted rape and battery. We found that out too late as well.’

‘Well, he murdered his wife.’

Kate cut him off. ‘But did he? For all we know someone else murdered her and Markham, dumping his body elsewhere. Until we find him or his body we don’t know anything.’

Willy knocked on the door and brought in the coffee. ‘Phone call from the States, Pat.’

He leapt off the bed and out of the room. ‘Shall I pour, ma’am?’

‘Yes please, Willy. I don’t feel very steady at the moment.’

‘I paid your cab for you. You was very drunk, you know.’

‘I know.’

She took the cup from him.

‘You look like you’ve been done and left!’

Kate couldn’t help smiling. ‘I feel like it, Willy.’

He pointed a short fat finger at her. ‘Then let that be a lesson to you. Never have liked to see a woman in drink, it’s horrible.’

‘I’ll bear that in mind in future.’

Willy left the room and Kate sipped at her coffee. God knows how the others must be feeling, they had been even drunker than her. Once the initial shock had worn off they had all started in on some serious drinking. The last she remembered was Caitlin slipping off his chair. One and all they’d been blotto.

But, by Christ, why not? After the news they’d had, they damned well needed something.

She closed her eyes as frustration assailed her again. All day the picture of James Redcar’s tiny body had haunted her.

Patrick came back into the room, sat down beside her and slipped the towel from her breasts, caressing them.

‘I think me and you could do with cheering up a bit. I know a little game you might like to play. Take your mind off your troubles for a bit.’

‘What’s that?’

‘It’s called lorries and garages. I don’t know if you’ve ever played it before?’

Kate looked at him with one eyebrow raised.

‘I can’t say I have, no.’

‘Well, do you see this?’ He put her hand on his erect member. ‘This is my lorry, right. And I have to find somewhere to park it. Get my drift?’

Kate roared with laughter.