James leaned forward. ‘Are you telling us she’s lying?’

‘That’s exactly what I’m telling you. Yes, I saw her when I went into the garden to smoke a joint away from prying eyes. And not for the first time she started flirting with me. She even tried to kiss me. When I pulled away, she got angry and told me to fuck off. I didn’t want to cause a scene so I did just that.’

James had been here before – having to balance one person’s word against another. And as usual, it was hard to know which one of them was telling the truth.

Right now, it was Belinda’s story that sounded the most convincing to James, but he would need to speak to her again, and find out more about her, in order to be certain.

Meanwhile, a hot rage continued to burn in Slade’s eyes and his hands were clenched tightly into fists on his lap.

‘If you’ve got it into your heads that I killed Rachel then you really are as daft as you look,’ he seethed. ‘I had no reason to harm her and you won’t find any evidence linking me to it because it wasn’t me. I swear to God.’

‘But surely you can see why you’ve become a person of interest to us?’ Abbott said. ‘It’s not just because of what Belinda Travers has told us. It’s also because you have a history of violence against women. We’ve checked your police record and it makes for disturbing reading.’

‘That’s all in the past,’ he said. ‘I’m not like that anymore. People who know me will testify to that, including Greg Murphy. I’ve been through treatment programmes and I’ve learned my lesson.’

‘Then you won’t object if we bring in forensic officers to search this room and your belongings,’ James said. ‘We can’t simply ignore what Miss Travers has alleged. And given where and when the encounter you had with her took place it has to be an avenue of enquiry in respect of the murder investigation.’

‘Does that mean I’m under arrest?’ Slade asked, his eyes popping.

James shook his head. ‘Of course not. Miss Travers has given no indication that she wants to press ahead with a case against you. And provided you’re prepared to cooperate fully with us, and that you’re telling the truth, then there’s no reason for this to drag on.’

Slade sat there steaming for several seconds, his jaw pulsing, his face white with anger.

Then, in a voice stretched with tension, he said, ‘So what next?’

James sat back in the chair. ‘I’ll go and arrange for a forensics team to come here. And I’ll get an officer to take a statement from you. Would that be all right?’

‘I suppose it will have to be. Should I call my lawyer?’

‘That’s up to you. But I don’t think it’s necessary at this stage.’

‘Then get on with it,’ Slade said, his tone icy.

James stood up. ‘One other thing, Mr Slade. Stay well clear of Miss Travers. It would be a big mistake to try to confront her regardless of whether what she’s told us is true or not.’