‘Abs, try to forget what happened. Deano is dead, it’s over. Get on with your life. You’ve had a bad day, you’ve been knocked back by Kelsey, but it’s not the end of the world. I’ll always be here for you, mate,’ Jez said. ‘We all feel like this sometimes. I was the same the other night at the party, but I’ll be here you for, just like you’ve always been here for me.’

‘Yeah.’ Abs pressed his fingers into his eyes to try to stop the bed – the ceiling – the glass – the blade of light – the mattress – all whirling in his skull. ‘I know that, Jez. Thanks.’

‘No problem, mate.’

Then the door opened and Bethany came in and told them both tersely, ‘That police officer is here.’

‘Again?’ Jez cinched the dressing-gown belt. ‘I’m not exactly dressed.’

‘Oh, don’t worry,’ said Sasha Dawson, walking into the room. ‘Believe me, I’ve seen people in all states of undress.’

Abs nodded warily at the policewoman. ‘I’d better go.’

‘No, Abs, please stay. You’ll want to hear this too.’ She glanced at Bethany. ‘The both of you.’

‘Is it about my sister?’ asked Jez.

‘In a fashion.’ The detective’s eyes flicked to Abs, who had obviously told Jez about her. ‘We did a forensic sweep of Tony Gardner’s home and DNA turned up that was a close match to your own.’

Bethany’s diamond wedding ring seemed to flash with agitation when she lifted a hand to her forehead. ‘Good God.’

‘I haven’t been to his house in years,’ said Jez.

‘It wasn’t your own DNA, Jeremy, but a match with a close female relative of yours. I presumed – wrongly – that it was your sister Lauren’s DNA. But now I strongly suspect it’s the DNA of your mother, Rachel Weston.’

Abs couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Jez’s shoulders sagged a little, but he seemed to take the news calmly enough.

‘We know that your mother was sentenced to fifteen years for murder.’ Sasha Dawson perched on the edge of the sofa. ‘And that term was increased following an assault she made on a prisoner during her sentence. We know she left prison two years ago. But what we don’t know is where she is now. Do you have any idea, Jeremy?’

Jez kneaded his knees. ‘No. I haven’t seen her since I was a kid,’ he said. ‘I’ve never wanted anything to do with her.’

‘Your sister told me you were in contact with your mother when she was in prison. That you wrote to each other.’

‘Yeah, we were encouraged to, but we both stopped writing to her after a couple of weeks. I’ve never wanted anything to do with my mother. Why would I?’