I smile confidently while my mind races for excuses as to why I’ve taken a potential piece of evidence from a crime scene. I reach into my pocket and hand him the card. ‘I was at the Wilsons’ house earlier.’ I notice the duty officer moves away to talk to someone who has come in behind me. ‘And I saw this attached to a bunch of flowers. It sounded threatening. Thought it might be important.’ Let him believe I’ve done him a favour.

He pushes his black-framed glasses further onto his nose and frowns down at the card. ‘Right,’ he says, glancing up at me, his eyebrow raised questioningly. ‘And you took it because …?’

‘Like I said, I thought it might be important. And I didn’t want it to blow away or get lost.’

He doesn’t say anything else but rests his finger lightly on the card, as though worried I might snatch it back. ‘Right. Anything else I can help you with?’

I stand up straighter. This could work to my advantage. ‘While I’m here, I was wondering … Do you have any more information on the victims? Like, what kind of people were they?’ I nod towards the card. ‘It sounds like they could have had enemies. Were they – Clive particularly – into anything … I don’t know …’ I lift my shoulders ‘… dodgy?’

‘Dodgy?’ Ruthgow rubs the skin between his eyebrows as if he’s never heard the word before. ‘I’m afraid I can’t reveal anything at this point in the investigation.’

‘But you think it’s an open and closed case? That Heather Underwood committed the murders?’

He sighs. ‘We’re not taking anything for granted.’

‘So someone else could be involved?’

‘I’m not necessarily saying that.’

‘Does Clive have a criminal record?’ I persist. It comes out of nowhere but is a last-ditch attempt at finding out something.

Ruthgow falters. ‘I … Not exactly. No. There was a complaint made about him.’

I mentally rub my hands together. ‘What sort of complaint?’

Ruthgow shoots me a warning look. ‘This is off the record. But someone complained about him and the police were called. He was issued with a warning but no further action was taken.’ He holds up his hands as though to ward off any further words. ‘That’s all I can say at this point.’ He turns his attention back to the card. ‘You know, you shouldn’t tamper with a crime scene.’

‘I thought I was doing the right thing.’ I smile sweetly.

‘You shouldn’t have taken this card.’ His voice is stern but fatherly.

I glance at my watch and roll my eyes theatrically. ‘Jeez!’ Jeez? I’ve never said that in my life before. ‘Better be off. On another job. Busy day.’

He opens his mouth, the puzzled expression not leaving his face.

But I hurry away before he can reprimand me further.