Abs had seen those CSI shows where good-looking geeks examined test tubes while rock music pounded on the soundtrack. ‘The forensics people.’

‘Exactly, and the pathologist will examine the deceased.’

‘The deceased,’ repeated Abs. ‘You mean Tony.’

‘Yes, Mr Gardner. I want to stress that his death could be nothing more than a tragic accident.’

Abs had the feeling this Ajay guy wasn’t telling him everything, he wasn’t offering the information Abs needed to make sense of it all. Houses didn’t just blow up in this day and age, despite what the policeman said. And if that was the case, if the explosion was just an accident, then why was he calling Abs to tell him?

Standing behind a curtain in order to get some privacy, he looked out at all the people in the room. ‘I want to speak to Sasha Lawson.’

‘Detective Inspector Dawson is out of the office. I can get her to phone you first thing tomorrow.’

‘I need to speak to her right now,’ insisted Abs. ‘Because I’m scared.’

The policeman offered advice on how Abs could stay safe, and how he should call if he believed he was in danger, but Abs struggled to concentrate on what he was saying. All he could think about was the fact that Tony was dead. First Deano, and now Tony. He peeked out to see Jez standing with a group of people, one hand placed on the small of Bethany’s back, as his father-in-law talked about something. But as everyone listened, Jez slipped out of the room, and Abs saw his chance to speak to him in private.

He said into the phone, ‘I’ve got to go.’

‘Don’t take any chances,’ said DS de Vaz. ‘If you have any concerns for your own safety—’

‘Sure,’ said Abs, and killed the call.

He came out from behind the curtain and bumped straight into an elderly man, who told him, ‘I thought you’d have a snazzier phone.’

‘Excuse me a moment, yeah?’ Abs literally moved the old fella aside. ‘Got to visit the little boy’s room.’

He followed Jez out of the door, expecting to see him in the hallway, but he wasn’t there. This big house was such a maze of corridors and connecting rooms – the dining room led into a study, which led to a sitting room, which had another door that led down a little corridor and into a room with a piano – that Abs got totally lost. He walked around for minutes before he bumped into a young woman who told him where Jez was, near the rear of the house.

But then through a window, Abs spotted him striding across the lawn towards the trees.

‘Jez.’ He rapped on the window. ‘Jez, wait.’

But his friend didn’t hear him and soon he had disappeared into the wood.