They would interview Angela Corrigan in the morning and speak to everyone they had interviewed already with a hope that Corrigan’s death might loosen some tongues. Now that Angela had agreed to give a statement and had confirmed that Simon Glover was beaten to within an inch of his life in his flat, they could put together a clearer picture of how it happened.

Adrian couldn’t stop thinking about the list of names he had printed off – the ex-cons who worked for Corrigan. They would most likely be first on the list of people they would need to speak to. Maybe the police would find the two men who took Angela Corrigan and Simon Glover on that night. Adrian wasn’t sure he could be a part of that investigation, not without putting Imogen in danger again. She needed a partner who would have her back, not fall to pieces in dangerous situations.

Adrian was tired of lying, tired of keeping secrets. He only had enough room in his life for one lie now and everything else needed to be less complicated. Going to work every day and lying about being with Imogen, lying about being OK to everyone he knew, lying to his boss about decisions he had made in the past. He just couldn’t do it anymore. He had to simplify his life. There was no space for anything but that one big, ugly secret that he couldn’t yet face telling anyone.

The longer he left it, the easier it got to tell that lie and the harder it got even to think about speaking it aloud. Maybe he could put those men to the back of his mind. He had even started ignoring Dr Hadley’s calls. He had to pretend it never happened and that would take every ounce of his energy. He kissed Imogen on the forehead and then tilted her face towards him.

‘Thank you for everything these last few weeks. You’ve been so good and I know I haven’t been much fun to be around.’

‘This sounds like another one of those big goodbyes, Adrian. What is going on?’ Imogen asked.

He peered at her brown eyes and big black lashes, and it occurred to him that he hadn’t really looked her in the eye for a while. He had been avoiding eye contact with anyone and everyone. Utterly consumed with himself. He didn’t want to be that person anymore. This was another one of those life-defining moments and he had to make a choice. He kissed Imogen on the lips.

‘I have given this a lot of thought,’ he said.

‘Given what a lot of thought?’ she said, pulling away from him and propping herself on her elbow.

‘I’m going to hand in my notice tomorrow.’

‘Sorry, what?’

‘I’m resigning,’ he said.

‘What the hell are you talking about?’