‘This guy’s been following me for about four miles, through three crossroads and two roundabouts. Is he with you? He needs to work on his technique if he is. Not exactly inconspicuous.’

‘No, he’s not with me. Just looks to me like someone who’s not been able to get a clear stretch to overtake you. Are you always this paranoid?’

‘I am when private investigators front up asking questions about dead people I’ve never met. More so when it happens twice, despite it being obvious the first time that your colleague was barking up the wrong tree.’

Jasmine didn’t respond for a few seconds, letting him think he’d made his point. In truth he had only made her all the more sure that he was hiding something, and she was going to show him why.

‘Have you had a bad morning, Mr Ingrams? Get out the wrong side of bed? Football team lose last night?’

‘No, but my pet goldfish snuffed it and my application for ballet school got turned down. On top of that, my shredder packed in, but I’d have to say that all of the above pale into insignificance compared to the irritation of being asked questions I’ve already answered, especially when the subject is something I know nothing about. It’s bordering on Kafkaesque.’

‘Hardly, Mr Ingrams. In fact, the reason I asked is that you strike me as acting disproportionately grumpy, and I’m inclined to ask myself why. Being asked questions by someone who mistakenly thinks you’re informed is not the biggest imposition in the world. I think you’re protesting too much.’

Ingrams gave an exasperated laugh.

‘So if I’m pissed off at being asked questions I can’t answer, that proves I can answer them? “Only the true messiah would deny it.” Like I said: Kafkaesque. And why did the other guy send you anyway? Is it Bring Your Daughter To Work Day?’

Jasmine felt her cheeks burn and experienced a horrible combination of embarrassment and defeat. He had seen right through her.

There was a little ember of indignation burning in there too, though. For all she disliked working as a PI, she was surprised to discover that she hated someone who knew nothing about her implying that she was rubbish at it. There was a voice inside her saying, ‘Just wait, I’ll show him,’ but unfortunately it was a tiny little squeaky voice with absolutely nothing else to say. Under the circumstances, she felt that the truth was her only way forward.

‘My boss has disappeared. He’s been missing almost a week now, and I’m trying to find out what’s happened to him.’