‘Er …’ I hesitate. I’m being silly not trusting Barb; or maybe it’s stubbornness on my part. And it’s not as though she’s going to be able to get one of the new keys – they usually only leave two.

‘Okay, yes, that’s fine, thanks,’ I yield. ‘And thank you for bombing over here and checking the house …’

‘No worries. I don’t want you or the boys feeling unsafe, do I?’

Nick stays put on the sofa. I was assuming he’d leave now. I wonder if she’s at his flat, waiting for him. He hasn’t mentioned her for a long time – not since the night I found out, in fact. Maybe it’s his idea of being tactful. A knot grinds away in my gut. The hurt hasn’t vanished – it might not ever go completely. But I don’t want to appear ungrateful for him coming over at my whim, so the least I can do is offer him a drink.

‘Can I get you a cuppa?’

‘One of your hot chocs would be good,’ he says. He’s smiling like an excited child. ‘Gone are the days of vodka and Jägermeister shots, eh?’ He laughs.

‘Oh, for sure. I’d be comatose after a few of those now.’

‘A few? That’s impressive. I don’t reckon I could sink one now without severe repercussions.’

Nick follows me out into the kitchen and leans on the worktop, watching me as I prepare the drinks.

‘How’s life in the cold?’ I ask, referring to his new role working the cold cases.

‘Okay, actually. I’m surviving. It’s not exactly adrenaline-inducing, but I’ve had a couple of successes, which is really satisfying.’

‘Oh, that’s great,’ I say, nodding. ‘Well done. Must be a good feeling to bring closure to the cases – and the families, of course.’

‘Yeah, that’s the best bit.’ He lowers his face for a moment, and I know what he’s thinking. I turn away from him, pour the milk into a jug and put it in the microwave. I let the silence between us stretch while the microwave hums – if he wants to talk about it, he will.

‘This current one isn’t progressing quite as well, though,’ Nick says.

‘No? How come?’

‘The new evidence isn’t as good as we initially hoped. Hit a few dead ends and I’m running out of places to look.’

‘That’s frustrating. But if there’s new evidence should the case not be reopened? I mean, rather than it being treated as a cold case still?’

‘Yeah, but when I say new evidence, unfortunately it’s not being classed as enough to warrant opening it up again. I need more.’

‘Well, don’t give up hope. You never know – you might unearth something else that links in with it. What’s the case?’