‘They didn’t quite laugh at me at the interview, but I could tell they wanted to. I didn’t have any qualifications and all the reps had degrees and what have you. That’s something else I lied about, since I’m being honest, I never went to university. I left school at sixteen, you see.’ He straightened the lapels of his jacket. ‘I’d spent all my money on a posh suit for the interview and afterwards I went to a pub to drown my sorrows and met a woman. We got chatting, I really liked her and when she asked me what I did for a living I told her I was a sales rep for London Medical.’

‘And she was impressed?’

‘Yes, especially when I told her I was just back from a sales meeting in Prague and that I was heading to Paris the following week. We went on a few dates but there was no real connection.’ Flynn ran a hand over his head. ‘The next weekend, I went out and met another woman, and told her the same story.’

‘I don’t understand why you felt you had to pretend. What’s wrong with being a support worker?’

‘Nothing, and I like what I do, but it can be a dull, monotonous job and it’s poorly paid.’ He straightened the knot of his tie. ‘When I put on my suit, it’s as if I become a different person. I talk to people about sales meetings in Vienna and Copenhagen, and conferences in Boston and New York, and I see them thinking, wow, this guy is so fascinating.’

Jodie gave an uncertain laugh. Hadn’t she thought exactly that? Would it have made a difference if he’d told her he was a support worker? She didn’t think so. His stories were fascinating but it had been his smile and quick wit that had attracted her. ‘I bet you could talk about things that happen in Guy’s and people would find it equally fascinating,’ she said. ‘It wasn’t what you were talking about that kept me listening to you, it was the way you told the stories.’

‘My time as a sales rep has come to an end anyway. That guy that interviewed you, Graham Barker, he rang me and told me he’d report me to the police if I kept on with it.’ Flynn wiped a hand over his mouth. ‘I knew then, of course, why you’d dumped me. I wanted to explain but you’d blocked me. Then this morning, the police rang. I had to go into the station.’ He grimaced. ‘It wasn’t pleasant but I think I eventually convinced them I’d nothing to do with the packages you’d been getting.’

‘And the medication problem in the nursing home? Did you have anything to do with that?’