‘Well, you would be wrong. DS Miles’ determination is a huge factor. I’m not comfortable talking this way about him without him here to defend himself. I also don’t really appreciate your suggestion that I falsified my report in order to paint DS Miles in a more favourable light.’

‘There’s nothing to defend; these are observations. Not attacks. All I am saying is don’t let your loyalty ruin your career. He’s attacked both an officer at this station and a civilian now. We have to be held to higher standards than that.’

‘I think you mean suspect, not civilian.’

‘Does that make it OK?’

‘This conversation is over. Unless there is anything else?’ she snapped.

This time, it was most definitely Walsh she was annoyed with.

‘Let’s move on. Have you found anything?’

‘The usual, really: announcements for construction bids they won and things like that. A picture of Corrigan with a bloke called Gerry Thompson from a couple of years ago; apparently, he was his right-hand man, but I don’t remember seeing him on any of the staff lists.’

‘Maybe we should give him a visit.’

‘I’ll get his address,’ she said.

She hated it when other people pointed out her flaws to her, especially if they were right. She wanted to call Adrian and tell him about the conversation she had just had with DI Walsh, but she didn’t much feel like calling just to have her call rejected again.

Chapter Forty-Seven

Gerry Thompson didn’t live like a man who had until recent years been working for the top construction company in the area. His home was a run-down studio flat just behind Paris Street. He opened the door and limped back to the sofa, flopping down and muting the TV. They followed him inside. The smell of overripe rubbish hung in the air; Imogen wondered how he slept in here. The curtains were drawn and swirls of dust circled the air. Her stomach turned. Let’s get this over with.

‘Mr Thompson, you used to work for Corrigan Construction, correct?’ DI Walsh said.

‘How did I know this was going to be about that?’

‘Have you been expecting us?’ Imogen asked.

Thompson was the second person to make a remark like that.

‘I guess. Eventually.’

‘What did you think we would need to speak to you about?’ Imogen said.

‘I am guessing I am not your first port of call for whatever you are here for. Reece upsets a lot of people. It’s what he does. So really I don’t know what specific thing this is about.’

‘Do you know his wife, Angela?’ DI Walsh said.

‘Lovely girl. She’s still there, then?’ Gerry Thompson looked at the ground, shaking his head as he spoke.

‘You knew about the domestic violence?’ Imogen said.