‘This article I read profiled Nick Gilbert and Adam Murray, saying they were both examples of this post-traumatic growth. Over the last few years, Nick became hugely successful. He expanded his restaurant business and made a name for himself as a celebrity chef. Adam wasn’t in the crash but he still experienced the trauma of losing his wife. And he’s used that trauma to turn his life around in a hugely positive way.’

Rachel was impressed by this insight, but not surprised. Ade was a constant source of fascinating information about all sorts of things Rachel had never heard of.

‘It hasn’t happened with all of them,’ she said. ‘Clodagh didn’t strike me as someone who’s managed to turn her life around.’

Rachel had read that, before the crash, Clodagh had been a high-flying corporate lawyer working for a prestigious international law firm. Since the accident, she’d had to give up her law career and seemed to have spent the rest of her time doing not very much at all.

‘Maybe her luck’s changed too,’ Ade said. ‘Now she’s found love with Adam Murray.’

‘Maybe.’ Rachel wasn’t convinced. There was a sadness, an emptiness, that she’d seen when she’d spoken with Clodagh earlier today.

She felt exhausted suddenly. She’d barely touched her food but couldn’t face eating any more.

‘You want this?’ She held the leftover fish and chips out to Ade who shook her head.

‘Absolutely full, thanks.’

‘We should get back.’ Rachel crumpled up the paper and the remains of her food and stood up. As she threw the bundle in a nearby bin, her phone started to ring. There was a number she didn’t recognise on the screen.

‘Hello?’

‘Oh, hello. Is this Detective Lewis? It’s Shelly Clarkson. You’ve been trying to contact me.’

The guest who’d been at the villa yesterday but hadn’t spent the night. Rachel had left two messages for Shelly earlier today. Finally, the woman had decided to call her back.

‘Indeed I have,’ Rachel said. ‘I was starting to think I was never going to hear from you.’

‘I’m sorry I’m so late getting back to you,’ Shelly said. ‘I’ve been out walking all day. I didn’t take my phone as I wanted a day of complete peace. I need days like that sometimes, especially after yesterday.’

‘You know why I’m calling?’

‘Nick,’ Shelly said, after a short pause. ‘You’re not the only person who’s left messages, detective. I’ve had so many that my voicemail is full. He died last night and you think he might have been killed? I’ve just come off the phone with Tara. The poor thing is devastated.’