‘Mitch and I went to Italy together. My father has a small flat in Umbria, on the shores of Lake Trasimeno, and I dreamed of setting up home with Mitch. I set out to make him love me.’ Her eyes misted over.

‘Did he ever mention me?’ I asked.

‘Within a week of arriving in Italy he told me, one evening over wine and pizzas, that he was in love with someone else. He intended going back to England once the police were off his back. In the meantime he wanted to travel and would only return to England once Oliver gave him the all-clear. Oliver’s father, as you know, was head of the drugs squad and led the investigation.’ Amber drew breath. Images of Mitch on his own, killing time until we could be together, would haunt me forever. I didn’t say anything.

‘Then something happened. He didn’t say what. It had something to do with Oliver, I think. Anyway, I came down one morning to find Mitch writing me a note with his rucksack already on his back. That was the last I saw of him until shortly before we all met up that night at the cinema. He phoned me the week before, asking if I fancied meeting up. I’d waited ten years for that call and hoped, naively, that he might be ready to settle down.’

‘Why did you tell the police you were to be married?’ I needed to hear everything, to find closure to the love affair that would forever define my life.

‘Jealousy, I suppose. It eats you up. I’d forgotten about you, and believed that after ten years he might have too. True love never really dies though,’ she said, smiling weakly with a sad acceptance. ‘I also knew that Oliver wouldn’t have murdered Mitch. He doesn’t have it in him. I was furious that you put him in the frame.’

‘Oliver raped me after Mitch left. Oliver sent photographs to Mitch of us together; photographs which he took after using date rape drugs to sedate me.’

I asked if I could have a sip of her water. It was cathartic to say it out loud. I refilled the glass from the jug and offered it back to Amber. ‘I was only too happy to get my revenge.’

Amber let me carry on.

‘I’ve now got evidence that will lock Arthur away for life for Mitch’s murder. Arthur knew Mitch and I were going out again. Problem was, I never really noticed him, Arthur. He turned up at a time I needed friendship. He seemed so normal. He was easy company, a loyal friend. Or so I thought.’

We laughed at this point, and Amber sat up while I propped the pillows more comfortably behind her head.