‘Sorry, but it’s not the sort of work I take on. I have got a suggestion for you, though. There’s a firm of private investigators in Camberwell Green called Cityside Investigations that specialize in gathering evidence for neighbour disputes. You should call in on them in person. I think they will be able to help you make some real progress.’

I loved the thought of Mr Clown Shoes and his bulging bag of bullshit clogging up their offices. I wrote down their address for him and he thanked me profusely. As I was leaving with my coffee and sweetmeats, I turned back to Wayne and asked him exactly what it was that people were not allowed to ask him.

‘How I became so gorgeous,’ was his reply, and I think he was telling the truth.

When I got back to my block, I had a good look around to see if Tommy was lurking, but everything looked familiar and correct. Once inside the flat, I closed the latch on all three locks and secured the chain. Emily was sat at the dining table staring out of the window. I gave her the coffee and treats and sat down opposite her. She smiled then leant over the table and gave me a kiss on my cheek.

‘Listen,’ she said. ‘I think I should go down to Brighton and speak to my dad. Maybe he will have a room that’s not being used and I can look for a job down there.’

Her expression suggested that she knew I would be disappointed, but I tried my best to give the opposite reaction.

‘It’s a good plan, a solid plan, better than just being holed up here wondering if Tommy is going to turn up. What about we drive down there today? If your dad doesn’t come good, you can always come back with me.’

She instantly agreed. The prospect of a day by the seaside with Emily filled me with joy. As she was getting her stuff together, my phone rang. It was an unknown number, so I let it go to voicemail. When I listened to the message it was from a colleague of Detective Peterson. He wanted me to phone him as soon as possible to arrange a chat about Brendan’s murder investigation. I decided immediately that I wouldn’t be calling back anytime soon. No one was going to rob me of my day out with Emily.

As we left the flat, we found Grace and Lassoo waiting for us outside her door.

‘Hello, Gary. Who’s this lovely young lady with you?’ she asked.

I explained as briefly as possible that Emily was just a friend who needed a place to stay for the night.