‘There was some chap here yesterday. He nipped in and out of the garden very quickly before we had chance to speak to him, and Mrs Barley was convinced it must’ve been you. I reckon he must’ve been on foot, because we didn’t see a car.’

Bob frowned. ‘Nope, definitely not me. And I don’t know why she’d have thought so, either. I told her I’d be coming on Sunday this week – I had a lot on yesterday.’

‘A mystery, then. No, he didn’t look anything like you.’ I omitted the fact that the man had been taller, younger and with a full head of hair. ‘We’ll keep our eyes peeled in case he turns up again – I thought it was a bit strange at the time.’

‘Yes, you do that. A bit of a worry with her there all on her own and everything. But having said that, crime round here’s very rare. Everyone generally looks out for one another, which is a comfort, especially for the old folk.’

I smiled. ‘Yes, that’s one of the reasons we moved here. It seems very safe and incredibly peaceful.’

‘Oh arr, it’s that all right. A bit too bloody quiet sometimes, if you ask me. Nothing much ever happens in Avoncote, nor my village – I’m in Snitterfield, just three miles up the road from here.’ He gestured towards the fields that backed onto the lane. ‘We moved there over twenty years ago to get out of the town, and it has its pros and cons, I’d say. They could do with a murder or two to liven things up a bit – you know, like in that TV series with the old dear who’s a bit of a sleuth on the side.’ He winked, laughing raucously at his own joke.

I watched as he trundled the mower onto the lawn. ‘How long have you worked for Mrs Barley?’ I asked.

‘Ooh, best part of the last fifteen years, I’d say. She’s a funny old stick sometimes, our Mrs Barley, but I’ve always quite liked her. I know there are those that think her odd but I take as I find. She’s never done me any harm. Can’t be doing with the gossips. You’d have thought in this day and age people would have moved on from the idea that an old woman living alone isn’t to be trusted.’

My skin tingled. ‘What do you mean?’