‘What, she thought you’d run a mile just because some rando was hanging around? Would you have?’

‘No! I—’

‘Of course you wouldn’t. And Aislinn, not being an idiot, knew that. You think she would’ve bothered her arse with you, if she thought you were that much of a wimp? Conway: would you want a guy who scared that easy?’

‘Nah,’ I say. ‘I like them to have at least one ball.’

‘Exactly. I’m willing to bet Aislinn did too.’

Rory’s shifting. ‘OK. Maybe she didn’t, she might not have known the guy was watching her—’

‘Maybe not,’ Breslin says. He leans in sharply towards the table and Rory flinches, but he’s only going for another swig of his coffee. ‘Maybe not. In which case, we’re back where we started: when the friend told Aislinn to be careful, she couldn’t have been talking about the stalker ex. Who’s never entered anyone’s head but yours.’

Except that he did. It twinges like a sore tooth that I thought was fixed, sorted, gone: an ex entered Lucy’s head. According to her story, he was part of the reason she sent that text.

Breslin puts down his mug with a hard, precise clunk. ‘So,’ he asks, ‘what was the friend talking about?’

Rory shakes his head. He’s subsided back into his heap.

‘Out loud for the tape.’

‘I don’t know what she meant.’

‘Shame,’ Breslin says. ‘That could really do with an explanation. But if you’re sure you can’t help us there . . .’ A small pause for Rory to come in, which he doesn’t. ‘I suppose we can leave it, for now. Let’s move on down my list, shall we?’

He leans over his notes and scans. ‘Ah,’ he says. ‘That’s right. Question Two.’

He pulls a piece of paper out of his jacket pocket and unfolds it with a snap that makes Rory’s shoulders leap. He has another stroll around the room while he reads down the page, taking his time, wandering behind Rory to make him twist in his chair.

‘Tell me that’s not another list,’ I say, rolling my eyes at Rory. No response.

‘This,’ Breslin said, tapping the page, ‘this is Rory’s timeline for Saturday night.’

Rory’s shoulders stiffen. ‘Oh,’ I say. ‘Yeah. That’s not as big a deal as you’re making out.’

‘You might be right. Let’s find out.’

‘What . . . ?’ Rory’s voice wobbles. He clears his throat and tries again. ‘What’s the problem?’