She knocked peremptorily. ‘Morning, Mr Jones. How are you today?’

‘Come in, come in.’ Robert waved her towards his desk. He indicated the front of the local paper.

Local Teacher Found Dead at Home

Jenny sighed. ‘Oh dear, oh dear. What does it say?’

‘Most of it’s about Hugh and his eminence as a scholar, but they do mention Charlie’s death, too. There’s also a small article in both of these . . .’ He indicated the two national papers.

‘He must have been very well known for them two papers to write about him.’

‘Yes.’ Robert was obviously flustered. ‘Can you organise coffee for myself and Inspector Hunter? She wants to see me and is due in any minute.’

‘Of course, Mr Jones.’ Jenny stood in the doorway, biting her lip, trying to work up the courage to say she needed a day off.

‘Is there anything else?’

Jenny shook her head, knowing this wasn’t the moment. ‘No, Mr Jones. I’ll get that coffee for you.’

Having given up on sleep at five, Jazz had left the cottage early for the relative warmth of the interview room at Foltesham police station.

At eight, Miles and Issy appeared, both looking slightly the worse for wear.

‘Coffee, I need coffee,’ Issy moaned.

Jazz ignored her. Issy slumped nonchalantly into a chair, but Jazz noticed Miles looking sheepish.

Eventually, Issy piped up: ‘Did he find you?’

Jazz nodded. ‘You told him where to look. Of course he did,’ she answered sharply.

‘Alistair, would you be a lamb and see if you can organise Auntie Issy some freshly ground coffee as penance for pouring all that wine down her throat last night?’

‘Do my best, but I’m not sure if the coffee bean has made it yet to the furthest outposts of British security.’

‘Thanks, my love.’ Issy sat quietly, watching Jazz pretending to concentrate.

‘You know he still loves you.’

Jazz slammed down the lid of her laptop and eyed Issy across the desk.

‘Bully for him.’

‘Oh, come on, Jazz, this is Issy you’re talking to. I know how you felt about him. And probably still do.’

‘No! Not any more. It’s taken all this time to get to where I am, and I’m just not interested in reliving the past. Last night, thanks to you, I had to.’

‘I’m sorry, Jazz, but I thought, at the very least, you two should talk. It’s extremely unhealthy not to confront your demons.’

‘Issy, I am not one of your head cases! How dare you interfere in my life!’

‘No, you’re my friend, Jazz. And I understand you. And care for you,’ Issy said calmly. ‘I also know your greatest weakness is your pride. Patrick humiliated you. And you turned tail and ran away, without even giving him a chance to explain himself.’

Jazz had been down this road before with Issy. And she wasn’t interested.

‘Look, let’s drop it, okay? Patrick and I are divorced. It’s over.’

‘There’s always the Liz Taylor and Richard Burton precedent . . .’