Coxon said, “The laptop is new, bought by me. Robin was supposed to help with some of the correspondence but he didn’t get down to it. I imagine that’s the only thing in the room worth anything. He’s always been appallingly untidy. We had a bit of a row just before he left for Dorset. I complained that he could at least have got his clothes cleaned before he moved. Of course, now I feel a mean-spirited bastard. I suppose I always shall. It’s irrational, but there it is. Anyway, all he possesses, as far as I know, is in this room and as far as I’m concerned you’re welcome to rummage through it. He hasn’t any relations to object. At least, he did mention a father, but I gather they haven’t been in touch since he was a boy. You’ll find the two drawers in the desk are locked but I don’t have a key.”

Benton said, “I don’t see why you should feel guilty. The room is a mess. He could at least have gone to the launderette before he moved in. You were only speaking the truth.”

“But being untidy isn’t exactly high moral delinquency. And what the hell did it matter? Not worth shouting about. And I knew what he was like. Some licence is surely due to a friend.”

Benton said, “But we can’t watch our words just because a friend might die before we have a chance to put things right.”

Kate thought it was time to move on. Benton seemed inclined to elaborate. Given the chance, he would probably initiate a quasi-philosophical discussion about the relative obligations of friendship and truth. She said, “We’ve got his key ring. The key to the drawers is probably there. If there’s a lot of paper, we may need a bag to carry it away. I’ll give you a receipt.”

“You can carry it all away, Inspector. Shove it in a police van. Hire a skip. Burn it. It depresses me profoundly. Give me a call when you’re ready to go.”

His voice broke and he sounded close to tears. Without another word he disappeared. Benton walked over to the window and opened it wide. The fresh air flowed in. Benton said, “Is this too much for you, ma’am?”

“No, Benton, leave it open. How on earth can anybody live like this? It looks as if he didn’t make the slightest effort to make the room habitable. Let’s hope we’ve got the desk key.”