‘Just those snidey remarks you made about Angela Corrigan. I didn’t like it.’

‘Snidey remarks? What are you talking about?’

‘Like how she’s in it for the money and stuff like that.’

‘It’s our job to ask these questions. The woman hasn’t made a complaint herself and we have to ask ourselves why. I am not passing judgement on her. I just wonder what her angle is, that’s all.’

‘Why does there have to be an angle? Maybe she’s just scared.’

‘Of course. Maybe she’s not, though. We just have to keep an open mind and investigate the facts without speculating as to why or who is doing what and for what reason. It is literally our job to find enough evidence to take this to court, where someone else can make the big, complicated decisions on morality and intent.’

‘It’s funny how you are the only one asking those questions, though,’ Adrian scoffed.

‘Well, I like to think I am thorough.’

She smiled, but he wasn’t paying attention, still annoyed. There was a heaviness in the air – something bad was going to happen. They were headed for a fight, she could tell.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Adrian hung back and let Imogen take the lead at the Corrigan house, to prove that she was wrong about what was going on with him. To prove that he could keep his cool, that he wasn’t hell-bent on some kind of latent transferred revenge.

When they knocked on the door and Corrigan himself answered, despite his car being missing from the driveway, Adrian felt the rage rise in him almost instantly. Maybe he couldn’t keep his cool, after all.

‘Look, Detective, I don’t want any trouble,’ Corrigan said.

‘Then cooperate with our enquiries, Mr Corrigan,’ Imogen said.

‘I’ve told you what you wanted to know. I don’t have anything to do with those dead men. I gave you my alibi and I assume the people whose names my receptionist sent you corroborated my whereabouts. You might want to check someone else out for a change,’ he said, turning to Adrian. ‘I know your girlfriend has a hard-on for me, but I didn’t do what I’m being accused of.’

Adrian ignored his pathetic attempt to rile him.

‘Your sudden change in attitude isn’t fooling anyone,’ Imogen said. ‘No point acting all affronted now.’

Angela’s car pulled into the driveway – the brand-new white hybrid Lexus. Adrian noticed Reece shooting an annoyed look at his wife as she stepped out of the car. She was immaculate, as usual: crisp white silk blouse, a calf-length black pencil skirt and red patent kitten heels. Her hair was a more vibrant golden blonde than the last time they had seen it. Where she normally had her loose barrel curls hanging around her face, today they were pulled into a loose updo.