I was glad that she didn’t seem to think it was my imagination. ‘There’s been this bloke in the old lady’s garden a couple of times, too. It’s really odd. We can’t get to the bottom of who he is.’

‘Maybe she’s hiding a fancy man in her loft! Two mysteries solved in one hit.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘Oh God, I’m afraid I’m really going to have to go, hon. I’ve got a casting call at 2 p.m. No rest for the wicked.’

As she opened the front door to leave, I was startled to find Mrs Barley standing on the doorstep, about to knock. She wore a pained expression and her lips were pinched into a thin line. She scowled at Reggie.

‘Oh, hello, Mrs Barley – this is my friend, Reggie. She …’

‘I just wanted to say – that car really shouldn’t be parked on the kerb like that. It could block the way if anyone passes by with a wheelchair – or a pram, for that matter.’

Reggie grimaced. ‘Oh, sorry. I’m leaving now, anyway.’

‘You should think about how you park in future – it’s most inconsiderate.’

Before I could say anything, the old woman went back into her house, slamming the door.

Reggie raised her eyebrows. ‘Fuck’s sake! What was that all about?’

‘Don’t take any notice. She’s a bit funny at times. I don’t think she means anything by it – she can be very nice when she wants to be.’

‘Well, I hope it’s more often than when she doesn’t. Grumpy old mare.’

She leaned in to give me a hug. ‘Anyway, I really do have to get off or I’ll be late. Don’t be a stranger,’ she told me. ‘Keep in touch, and I want updates about the weird happenings in your loft.’ She bobbed her tongue out in the direction of Mrs Barley’s cottage and laughed. ‘And keep that one at arm’s length!’

I walked up the path to wave her off with a slightly apprehensive feeling. There was something a little desperate about the way she squeezed me as she left, and I suspected that everything in her world wasn’t as rosy as she was making out. I wondered what the set-up with Akhmad was really like, and whether there was more to that bruise than overenthusiastic foreplay. I wondered too if he was aware that he wasn’t her only love interest. But Reggie was a strong woman. I had to trust that she was in control of her life; that if things weren’t right, she would have the good sense to cut her ties and move on. Wouldn’t she? No amount of luxury was worth being miserable. And certainly not being anyone’s punchbag.

‘You know you can tell me anything, don’t you, Reg? I’m always here if you need to talk.’