‘Yes, it’s warm in Italy, even in winter.’ Another pause and Jazz wished he’d get to the point. ‘How did you know I was here?’ she asked finally, not ready to start the ball rolling herself. ‘I only moved in three days ago.’

Norton chuckled. ‘I’m surprised you need to ask, having worked at the Yard, although even our computer could only manage Twenty-Nine Salthouse Road. When I got here and couldn’t find any numbers on the doors, I asked at the post office.’

‘Ah,’ said Jazz.

‘Why here?’ he asked.

‘Childhood holidays, I suppose. I’ve always loved Norfolk and it seemed as good as anywhere. Near my parents, too.’

‘Yes. Of course.’

Another pause.

‘So,’ said Norton, suddenly businesslike, sensing her impatience, ‘you want to know why I drove more than a hundred miles to see you first thing on a frosty January morning. I did try your mobile, but apparently you’ve cancelled it.’

‘I left it behind when I went to Italy. And when I got back I decided I didn’t really need it.’

Norton nodded. ‘Not much point in North Norfolk, anyway. Mine hasn’t had a signal since Norwich. Anyway, the reason I’m here . . . is because I want you to come back to work.’

Jazz was silent for a moment. ‘I thought I’d made things pretty clear,’ she said quietly.

‘You did. But that was seven months ago. You’ve had a sabbatical, got your divorce, found somewhere to live—’

‘Which I’ve no intention of leaving to go back to London,’ Jazz interjected sharply.

‘I’m sure you haven’t.’ Norton seemed unfazed.

‘Besides, how could I possibly come back? What makes you think I’d want to come back?’

‘Jazmine, if you’d just stop the defensive routine for a minute and hear me out.’ There was a sudden hard timbre in his voice.

‘Sorry, Sir,’ she said, ‘but you’ll forgive me if I’m not that keen to revisit the past.’ Jazz knew she was being hostile but she couldn’t help it.

‘Yes, I can see . . .’ He looked up at her. ‘What I want to know, though, is why you’re so angry with me? I didn’t cheat on you.’

‘That’s a low blow, Sir.’

‘Well’ – Norton studied his immaculately manicured nails – ‘perhaps you felt I did.’

‘Sir, I accept you could do nothing about my husband. I was already disillusioned by that time anyway and—’

‘That was the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back.’ Norton sipped his coffee and looked at her. ‘Jazmine, do you know how much it costs to recruit and train a DI?’

‘No, I don’t.’

‘Well, if I said a ballpark figure would buy you another cottage . . .’

‘Are you trying to make me feel guilty?’

‘If it works, yes.’ Norton managed a half-smile. ‘You didn’t even give me a chance to talk things through with you. One week you were at your desk, the next you’d hotfooted it off to Italy.’

‘I had no choice.’