It was supposed to be funny, I think. That’s what Gabe always said the next morning, when he’d swear he hadn’t meant any of it. Yes, of course I want to come to tonight’s gig. Why wouldn’t I? I’m looking forward to it. We agreed I’d be there for as much of the tour as possible, and that’s what I want to do.

‘So why did he go to all your gigs if that’s how he felt?’ Gibbs asks. ‘Why not watch the show once and leave it at that?’

‘Good question.’ I have a matching good answer, but it’s not one I’d better share with a policeman. It involves an illegal drug habit. ‘Look, my marriage isn’t the point here. I only mentioned Gabe was there that night because it might be useful. He might remember where the theatre was if you describe it to him – which town, I mean. He also moaned about how far away it was – he had to drive home afterwards and be up early for work the next morning. That narrows it down in terms of possible venues. Gabe regards anything more than an hour and a half as a long drive, so the theatre can’t have been one too close to Rawndesley.’

‘The two of you live in Rawndesley?’

‘Yes. Though not together any more.’

Gibbs nods. ‘I need to get all these details – your address, husband’s address, his work and contact details … You’re right: he might remember where the theatre was, so we need to talk to him. This white book you were given – I’m assuming you haven’t brought it with you. Do you still have it?’

I stand up, walk over to the table and open the bottle of sparkling water. No glass. I’ll have to drink from the bottle, which I suppose is no more undignified than using a suitcase as a footstool. Some spoilt prima donna I turned out to be. I decide to leave the pickled onion Monster Munch alone; I don’t fancy having to suck sticky crisp particles off my fingers in front of DC Gibbs. ‘Does it matter where the theatre was?’ I ask him.

‘The …’ He doesn’t want to talk about the theatre any more for the time being. He thinks he made that clear. ‘Does it matter? Yes. Obviously.’

‘It’s not obvious to me. Let’s say Gabe remembers and it turns out it was the Everyman in Cheltenham. That doesn’t tell us Billy lives in Cheltenham.’

‘It tells us he might. Or he might have strong links to the place,’ says Gibbs.