Before I could respond, Wozza stepped in.

‘They expect a safe night at the pub. Not sexual assault.’

Wendy’s eyes widened for a moment. Then she looked down and said in a quieter voice, ‘What would you like to see?’

‘We just want to take a look around,’ I said. ‘And is Jack Barratt here?’

‘Nah, Jack’s on a job today. Not due back till three.’

We followed Wendy around the premises. There were no besser block walls to be seen and no dirty floors. The place was big and cavernous and clean. No side rooms with a dirty mattress on the floor. Nowhere the polaroid photos could have been taken. We thanked Wendy and left.

Back at the office, we discussed the case until Wozza’s stomach rumbled.

‘What time is the autopsy?’ he asked, checking his watch.

The post-mortem examination of Mervin Geoffrey Evans would be our first together. I hoped Wozza wasn’t a fainter.

‘You’re not a fainter, are you?’

‘Not since the last time,’ he deadpanned.

‘Good. Got an email from the hospital mortuary. It’s scheduled for midday.’

I offered to get the morning coffees. Wozza was up to his elbows in paperwork and he felt that a pastry followed by a second pastry would give him the fortitude to finish. My ulterior motive was that the bakery was near Filmore’s Pharmacy and I wanted to see how Crystal was going on her first day on the job. I parked out the front of the chemist. Through the doorway, I spotted Norma and Crystal, heads bent over the cash register, deep in conversation. Crystal was dressed in a neat white uniform and looked quite the part. Her multicoloured hair was swept into a messy bun on top of her head. I was almost at the counter by the time the two looked up and saw me. Both broke simultaneously into a smile.

‘Looks like you’ve settled in,’ I said to Crystal, noticing in her dark eyes a resemblance to her father.

‘Norma’s showing me how to use the cash register,’ she said proudly. ‘I’ve nearly got it. Watch this.’ Crystal jabbed at a couple of buttons and the cash drawer dinged open.

Norma looked at the young girl proudly. ‘She’s a quick learner,’ she said. ‘And you were a big hit on Saturday at the CWA, Antigone. The girls are all very excited about the self-defence classes.’

‘About that …’ I said. ‘My boss isn’t exactly happy with me for offering to do them.’

‘Oh no,’ said Norma. ‘Everyone will be really disappointed.’

I held up my hand. ‘I didn’t say I was going to listen to him. We might have to be a bit creative, though.’

Norma had a glint in her eyes. ‘What did you have in mind?’