‘I’m not meaning it as a criticism. I prefer your view on people too, but they aren’t always what they seem, and, newsflash, some even lie.’ He did the newsflash with hand actions that made me laugh.

‘Other than speculate, I can’t investigate the activists as DI Johns is following up that line of inquiry and I’m not about to step on his toes.’

‘Strange, that. So why am I here? Other than you were desperate to see me and couldn’t think of any other way to lure me here and save face…’ I reached over and thumped him on the arm. ‘Ow. Hit a raw spot, did I?’ he said, with a laugh.

‘Don’t flatter yourself, sunshine. You’re not that appealing.’

‘That’s not what I’ve been told.’

‘They say nice things to your face, then get real behind your back.’

‘That’s what you say. Go on, admit it, you think I’m charming.’

‘Oh, for God’s sake. You’re so damned persistent. You must have a titanium hide. Don’t you know when you’re being spurned?’

‘No.’

‘Duh,’ I said and threw a teaspoon at him. ‘Okay, I’ll make it perfectly clear for you, then, in words of one syllable. No, I didn’t invite you here so I could sleep with you just because I’ve had a hard time and was a bit upset, so you can tuck your ego away. I invited you here to help with the case, so let’s get back to the point, shall we?’

At this, he opened up with the kind of laugh that originated from the depths of his boots and resonated off the walls. Even the cat lifted her dreamy head to see what caused the hilarity. ‘Not even a birthday bonk?’

‘No,’ I said, searching for something on the bench to throw. ‘As I just said, can we get back to the point, please?’

‘Alright then, enlighten me on your theories, oh great one. Where do you think we need to look? And yes please, I’ve changed my mind, I will have another coffee.’

I could have reacted to the goading, but wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction, so instead fussed around with making the drinks and trying to compose myself. I hated the way he could bait me and I always rose to it. I resolved to be a grown up and not play his silly little games.

‘I think we need to get back to basics and look at each of the murders and victims, similarities, commonalities. Find out how they are linked, other than the obvious, and work from there.’

‘Yes, well a five-year-old would realise this.’

‘No need to be sarky.’

‘Okay, truce,’ he said, hands up. ‘Fire away, one by one with the murders. Who was first?’