‘OK,’ Jake says, failing to hide his irritation. Kate used to adopt a similar tone when he’d asked one too many questions about her police work. ‘She didn’t exactly sound happy, that’s all. I know it wouldn’t normally be a police matter, but given what happened in Cornwall, I just thought…’

‘How long ago did she call?’

Jake looks across at Bex.

‘Ten minutes?’ she offers.

After Kate tried to ring them, Jake and Bex immediately agreed that they should drive up to London, even if they didn’t know precisely where Rob lived. The call had distressed them both.

‘And what exactly did she say?’ Hart asks.

‘The line was terrible…’ Jake turns to Bex again for support.

‘We think she mentioned Rob’s flat,’ Bex says, ‘where she was heading tonight.’

‘She hasn’t been picking up all evening,’ Jake adds. He knows how it must sound to Hart. Bitter ex unable to get over break-up.

‘Kate’s undoubtedly been a target in recent months,’ Hart says. ‘A result, I’m afraid to say, of the work she did for us.’

It’s the first time Jake’s heard Hart admit that. He wishes he’d said something earlier – like before the car crash.

‘But we think that threat has now passed,’ Hart continues. ‘And, as I say, if she’s with Rob, I’m not worried. If anything, I’m reassured.’

Why’s Hart sounding so damn relaxed about Rob all of a sudden?

‘I don’t think Rob met Kate by chance,’ Jake says. He doesn’t like the way Kate has dropped off the radar, as if everything’s now fine. ‘In the hospital, that first time.’ Again, Jake is worried how he’s coming across, as if he’s obsessed with Kate’s new partner. But Hart’s tone changes.

‘Tell me,’ he says, more interest in his voice.

Jake explains about seeing Rob in the car park at Gablecross when he came in to ask Hart some questions about police procedure for his latest book.

‘Remind me when that was?’

‘A day before Kate’s accident. We ended up talking about Bewick’s swans.’

‘I remember,’ Hart says.

‘Rob’s also involved with facial-recognition software,’ Jake adds, now that he’s got Hart’s attention. ‘Some new hush-hush outfit, possibly based in France, according to an investigative website over there. He’s known for all his medtech stuff, but I think he engineered a meeting with Kate at the hospital because he was professionally interested in the recognition work she was doing for you.’

This is met by a silence so long that Jake wonders if Hart has hung up. Even Stretch raises his head to see what’s going on. Bex glances across at Jake, who dials up the volume on the in-car audio system.

‘And you think Rob was visiting Gablecross police station?’ Hart asks eventually.

‘I assume so.’