Judith’s reverie was broken by the arrival of a pack of dogs who were barking, tumbling over each other and generally running riot. Judith was thrilled to see the woman who’d been interviewed on the news after Mr Kassam’s death walking with the dogs. Just as she’d hoped.

Now all she had to do was get up, which was easier said than done at her age. With a grunt, Judith used a tree root for purchase and levered herself up off the ground, her knees finally unlocking and allowing her to stand. Bloody hell, she thought to herself. If she had one piece of advice she’d give her younger self, it would be: don’t get old.

Judith picked up her cape, flapped it to get rid of the loose grass, put it on, and headed over. As she got closer, Judith could see that the woman seemed to have a very solid quality to her. It was the way she stood with her feet so firmly planted to the ground, Judith thought to herself. Like a general surveying her troops. Or a captain standing at the bridge of an old schooner. Yes, Judith decided, that was it. With her wide-brimmed hat, heavy walking boots and criss-crossed dog leads around her body that she wore like bandoliers, the woman had a faintly nautical look. Piratical, even.

‘Good morning,’ Judith called out as she approached.

‘Good morning,’ Suzie said with a friendly smile. ‘I know you, you’re that woman who lives in that mansion along the river from here, aren’t you?’

‘You know me?’

‘I’ve been walking past your house for years. If I’m honest, I’ve always wanted to see inside.’

The woman chuckled at the thought, but Judith was baffled. What a strange thing to say to a complete stranger.

‘I’m Judith Potts.’

‘Suzie Harris.’

The women lapsed into companionable silence, both of them watching the dogs run in and out of the river.

‘Lovely dogs,’ Judith said.

‘Aren’t they? You know where you are with dogs.’

‘I must confess I’m more of a cat person myself.’

‘Cats?’ Suzie said, in the same way that Captain Ahab might have said, ‘Whales?’ ‘Can’t say I agree with you there at all. They’re always judging you, cats.’

‘They are?’

‘Dogs aren’t like that. They’re loyal. They don’t let you down.’

‘Yes. I suppose so. Look, I hope you don’t mind me talking to you, but our meeting isn’t entirely accidental.’

‘It isn’t?’

‘I saw you on the TV last night. You knew that poor man who was shot, didn’t you?’

‘You mean Iqbal?’

‘That’s right.’

‘I knew him very well,’ Suzie said. ‘I saw him most days. Did you know him?’