‘Sadly not. But the thing is, I think my neighbour Stefan Dunwoody was murdered last week, and I’m trying to work out if Iqbal’s murder is related.’

Suzie looked about herself to check they were on their own, which she already knew they were as they were the only two people in the field.

‘Are you for real?’ she whispered in delight.

‘I’m sorry?’

‘You’re investigating your neighbour’s murder?’

‘That’s right.’

‘Well, I think you should go for it. Amazing. I love it.’

With a broad smile, Suzie went back to looking at the dogs. They were dashing in and out of the river, and she smiled at the sight.

Judith waited for Suzie to say more.

She didn’t.

‘So do you think they could be?’ Judith asked again.

‘What’s that?’

‘Could they be linked? The two murders?’

‘Oh, of course!’ Suzie said, remembering. ‘Sorry, I got distracted.’

Suzie pulled out an old tin from a pouch on her belt, got out a pack of tobacco and some liquorice papers, and started rolling herself a cigarette.

‘I know. Why don’t you tell me everything? Go on.’

Judith launched into the story of how she’d heard Stefan being shot, later found his body, and then worked out that Elliot Howard was a possible suspect, even though he had an alibi for the time of the murder.

‘That’s amazing.’

‘I know.’

‘But you think Elliot Howard’s the killer?’

‘You know him?’

‘I’ve lived here my whole life. I know everyone.’

‘Then what can you tell me about him?’

‘He’s very tall, isn’t he?’

Judith agreed with this statement and then waited for Suzie’s next insight.

‘And he’s got all that lovely hair,’ she added after a bit more thought.

This wasn’t exactly the deep background Judith had been looking for.

‘Do you remember the last time you spoke to him?’

‘I don’t think I’ve ever spoken to him, now you mention it. But he lives in that new house up at the end of Gypsy Lane, I know that much. That’s something, isn’t it?’

Judith tried not to let her frustration show.

‘Well, that’s very interesting. Can you tell me, do you have any idea why Iqbal might have been killed?’

‘None at all.’

‘Is it possible he was up to no good?’

Suzie picked a thread of tobacco from her teeth and flicked it away.

‘No way. Iqbal was as honest as they come. You see that dog in the river?’ Suzie nodded at Emma as she swam in the cooling waters. ‘She’s Iqbal’s Dobermann.’

‘He had a Dobermann?’ Judith asked, knowing the reputation of the breed.