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‘Yes. Danjel and I will go for a walk. Take whatever you want.’ He nodded, looking pleased at the efficiency. ‘One more thing, Mrs Falzon. Do you remember when I asked you if you were aware of your husband’s criminal dealings in Marseille?’

‘Of course, yes.’

‘I thought I saw something flicker in your expression.’

She stared at him. ‘Flicker?’

He nodded.

‘Today has been shock after shock, Inspector. I had no idea of what my husband got up to in Marseille.’

‘Right. It’s just we received a tip-off.’

She frowned. ‘From whom?’

‘It was anonymous.’ He held her gaze.

She shrugged. ‘What do you want me to say? I imagine he had enemies, if he was dealing in the criminal world. Lawrenz could make himself quite easy to dislike. He had moods, as I told you – sometimes wild and boastful, other times withdrawn, sulky, threatening.’

The inspector nodded again. ‘There is some talk that the tip-off could have come from a woman.’

‘Which woman?’ Valentina asked, making sure her tone of voice didn’t change.

‘We don’t know. The policeman who took the call did not speak capable English. He said a man phoned through a tip-off.’

‘A man?’ she repeated flatly. ‘You just said a woman. I don’t understand.’

‘Neither do we. But he mentioned that the person sounded like they were struggling to maintain the pitch of their voice. That sounds strange, I know. But we have to at least take that into account. So we don’t know if it was a man pretending to be a woman, or a woman pretending to be a man, or a man with a slightly odd voice or a woman with a rather masculine voice.’ All of this was said slowly with slight accusation, she sensed.

‘What are you asking me?’

They stared at each other for an uncomfortably long time until another rap at the door broke the awkward impasse.

‘Inspector,’ she began.

‘You’d better see to your caller,’ he said.

Opening the door revealed Robertu with a stricken expression. ‘Is it true?’

He reached for her and, for the first time since it had happened, Valentina dissolved into tears. Aware the inspector was no doubt watching this scene closely, she finally pulled away and wiped at her eyes. ‘Sorry. Er, Inspector Vella, this is Robertu Falzon, my brother-in-law.’

The inspector held out a hand. ‘Mr Falzon. My condolences. We were coming to speak with you shortly.’

Robertu shook his hand, but then turned back to Valentina. ‘They’re saying he fell? What happened?’

She quickly told him.

‘Valentina, I’m so sorry. I’m the one who told him you were at the picnic… I feel responsible,’ Robertu said, sounding on the verge of tears himself. ‘I wish I hadn’t, but he is so intimidating. He demanded to know, even raised his fist to me in front of people.’ He looked broken. ‘My brother gone. How do I tell my parents?’

She gave him another hug. ‘I’ll help you.’

‘I saw Danjel downstairs. Is he all right? He wouldn’t speak to me.’

‘We need to give him some time. No child should witness what he did,’ she said, glancing at the inspector. ‘Robertu, would you help us, please?’

‘Of course, in any way I can.’

She let the inspector explain that the police team wanted access to the bar’s records, and told him she was going out for a walk with Danjel to give the inspector the space he needed to conduct his search.