‘OK, thanks. Let us know if you find anything else unusual,’ Adrian said, eager to get out of there. He still hated being around dead bodies.

Adrian and Imogen left the pathologist’s office and went to grab a coffee. Adrian hadn’t been round to Imogen’s house since she had turned up at his and they had kissed. He felt quite lucky that he was able to compartmentalise and push his feelings to one side for the time being.

‘So, we’ve gone from two murders to four murders, probably connected but not the same killer,’ Imogen said.

‘Who do you think killed Owen Sager?’

‘I don’t know. Maybe someone else entirely. The other three murders are nowhere near as ambiguous.’

‘So, we have four murders and two or three murderers. Seems unlikely,’ Adrian said.

‘I think we need to speak to that genetics lecturer at the university. She was due back in today, wasn’t she? Maybe she can shed some light on all of this.’

‘Let’s swing by there now then,’ Adrian said.

Imogen put the car into gear and they pulled away. Adrian liked to watch Imogen drive – she got a look of intense concentration mixed with complete control, it was a little mesmerising.

‘How are you?’ he asked.

‘Excuse me?’

‘You haven’t really spoken to me about your mother,’ Adrian said, noting her back straighten slightly at the mention of Irene Grey.

‘You’ve never really spoken to me about yours,’ she threw back, jarring him a little, too.

‘Mine didn’t just die.’

‘There’s nothing to talk about really. I don’t have anything to say. If I do, I promise I will talk to you about it.’

‘Well, I might understand is all.’

‘Thank you. In all honesty, Adrian, I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. Part of me feels like she is still on holiday with Elias and that she will be back soon.’

‘Grief can be a bit like that, ’til it smacks you in the face every now and again to remind you what you’ve lost.’

‘Do you still think about your mother?’

‘Of course I do. I kind of hope she found some peace.’

‘We’ve spoken about your dad loads, but you’ve never told me much about her.’

‘Well, maybe one day I will, but not today. Nice diversion though, making this about me,’ Adrian said, his tone a little sharper than he had anticipated. She had hit a nerve he forgot he had.

They pulled into the uni car park near the humanities block and Imogen cranked the handbrake loudly. Adrian got out and walked ahead. When he got inside there was no one at the reception. He dinged on the bell repeatedly until an exasperated old man appeared from a back office.

‘Can I help you?’

He pulled out his warrant card and showed it to the woman. ‘I am DS Miles and this is DS Grey. We want to speak to Helen Lassiter. She was due back today.’

‘She was, yes, but she didn’t turn up for work this morning. I have been trying to get hold of her. I was about to send someone over there to see if she was all right.’