‘Did he mention any cases he was working on?’

‘No, nothing specific. I asked him how work was going and he just said he was doing the usual boring mundane stuff.’

‘So, what did you do after 7:45 when Brendan had left?’

‘I got talking to this girl, we chatted, and I had steak and chips. We chatted some more and then suddenly while I was at the bar she disappeared. I guess she was looking for an escape and didn’t have the bottle to tell me to my face.’

‘What was her name?’

‘I didn’t get her name. I decided to call her “Satsuma” after the event because of the title of a book she was reading.’

‘Let me guess – would that be The Satsuma Complex that every Tom, Dick and Harry is reading?’

‘Yeah, that’s it. Have you read it?’

‘I started it, Gary, but I have to say I found it deeply shit.’

‘You didn’t even like the ducks?’

‘I think that’s when I packed it in, when those fuckers arrived.’

Wilmott chipped in:

‘What did this woman look like? Could you describe her?’

‘Medium height, about five foot six. Dark, almost shoulder-length hair with a very severe straight fringe across her forehead – you know, like Jane Brurier. She was wearing light blue Levi jeans and a black jumper, and she had a cute little turned-up nose.’

A sly little grin arrived on Wilmott’s bloated face. I noticed for the first time that his two front teeth were many shades whiter than the others. This backed up my steroids line of thinking. They can rot the bones that support the teeth. Or maybe Cowley had punched him when he burped on his kebab.

‘Sounds to me like you fancied her rotten. Shame she didn’t feel the same for you,’ said Wilmott as his hand reached down and adjusted the lie of his crotch.

‘Listen, Gary, as you are potentially the last person to see him alive, we may have to speak to you again. Could I take your telephone number please?’

As I was writing down my number for him, I asked:

‘You said “found his body”. I thought he was run over or had a heart attack or something?’

‘No, we never said that, Gary. Like I say, we’ll be in touch. Oh, one last thing: who is Jane Brurier?’

‘I don’t know what she does but she’s famous for her fringe. It’s very, very straight and forthright.’

‘Never heard of her,’ said Cowley.

‘Oh yeah, I know her,’ said Wilmott. ‘French woman, rescues big cats and monkeys.’

Cowley beckoned his partner to leave with him, and once they were both outside they shut the door behind them without further comment.