Now Ella felt like she was under investigation. Why were they questioning her like this? She hadn’t done anything wrong. Her only crime was to fall in love. She shared a look with Callie, raising an eyebrow. ‘Do you think it’s weird I never went to his flat?’

Callie hesitated. ‘If you thought it felt right and he was being genuine…’

‘Alex is genuine! What are you saying? He could lying at the bottom of the river… murdered… anything! And you’re asking me ridiculous questions about his clothes, what he moved in with.’ Ella was bordering on hysterical now. She didn’t want the police sitting there asking her stupid questions. She wanted Alex to be found and brought home.

‘Ella, I’m on your side,’ reassured Callie, ‘but I can hear what the officers are saying. Alex James is not who he says he is and doesn’t work at the hospital.’ Callie’s voice was calm.

Ella was quiet for a second, and she felt a quiver in her stomach. She wanted to turn back the clock to Monday morning before Alex had left for work, when everything in her life had been normal. At this moment in time she wanted to be anywhere but here, listening to this. She’d spent twelve months with this guy. She knew who he was!

‘Your friend is right,’ added the policeman. ‘That’s exactly what we’re saying. So, did Alex move in with any possessions?’

Ella tucked her feet up on the settee and cast her mind back. ‘It was a weekend; I remember because I was working in the shop and he borrowed my car to move stuff. He brought one suitcase full of clothes and shoes…’

‘Was that it?’ continued the policeman. ‘No furniture from the flat? TVs, electrical devices?’

‘No, he didn’t need to bring any furniture, as I had all my stuff and most of it belonged to his landlord. All he had was his clothes and white coats for work, a few shirts.’

‘Any photographs of family?’

Ella shook her head. ‘Nothing.’

‘Can we go back to the death of your parents?’ questioned the police officer. ‘Did your parents leave you any inheritance?’

Ella looked puzzled. ‘What’s that got to do with anything?’ She was starting to feel a little agitated. ‘Why is this relevant?’

The policeman was staring at her, waiting for her to answer the question.

‘Yes, I received two hundred and fifty thousand pounds. But I’d rather have my parents than the money.’

‘And did Alex know that you were going to receive a large sum of money? Have you lent him any money?’

The room fell silent, and Ella felt a tightness in her chest. The colour drained from her face as everyone watched and waited for her answer. ‘Yes… but… he’s going to pay me back.’

The policeman raised an eyebrow. ‘How much money did you give him?’