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said. ‘Or should I go and tell him you’re here?’
    ‘No rush,’ Ella said. ‘So he recently moved in here, is that right?’
    Clarence nodded. ‘Last week. He was on the lounge for a couple of days until my old flatmate moved out. Got a job on the north coast, lucky bastard.’
    ‘Do you know Alicia Bayliss, who Dave used to share with?’
    ‘I’ve met her a couple of times, but I couldn’t say I know her.’
    ‘She and Dave never went out?’ Ella asked.
    ‘Nah,’ he said. ‘She’s not his type. Why?’
    ‘So have you and Dave been friends for a while?’ Murray asked.
    ‘We did uni together,’ Clarence said.
    ‘You’re a radiographer too?’ Ella said.
    He nodded. ‘Not in hospital though. Couldn’t stand the shiftwork. I’m in a clinic in the city.’
    ‘Day off today?’ Murray said. ‘Great weather for it.’
    ‘I know.’ Clarence grinned.
    Ella heard the shower stop. The clock was ticking. ‘Sam, were you home last night?’
    ‘Yep.’
    ‘All night?’
    ‘Uh-huh.’
    ‘Was Dave here too?’
    ‘He was at Amber’s place for the evening, then he got in at one.’
    ‘Amber’s his girlfriend?’ Murray asked.
    ‘Yes,’ Clarence said.
    ‘Did you see him when he came in?’ Ella asked.
    He nodded. ‘I was watching TV.’
    ‘How was he?’
    ‘When he got home?’ Now he hesitated. ‘Is he in some kind of trouble?’
    ‘Not at all,’ Ella said. ‘We want to find out if he saw something related to our case. We’re hoping he can help us out.’
    ‘Well, he didn’t say that he saw anything weird,’ Clarence said. ‘But he did seem a bit on edge. Anxious, or something. And distracted. I said something to him and he didn’t seem to hear me.’
    ‘Did he give any indication about why he was like that?’ Murray said.
    ‘No, but I thought he might’ve had an argument with Amber.’
    ‘What did he do then?’
    ‘Well, he put the kettle on and kinda paced in the kitchen, and I asked if he was okay but I didn’t think he heard me. Then he switched the kettle off before it was done, and went into his room. I heard him have a shower then I guess he went to bed. I was still watching TV.’
    ‘And you’re certain he came in at one,’ Ella said.
    Clarence nodded. ‘I was waiting for this crap show to end and the European soccer to come on.’
    A door opened and Dave Hibbins appeared. He looked a couple of years older than Clarence. His dark hair was trimmed short and he wore a blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up, dark jeans and new sneakers. He was freshly shaved and smelled of cologne. He looked from Ella to Murray to Clarence.
    ‘They’re detectives,’ Clarence said.
    ‘Can we have a word, Dave?’ Ella said.
    He looked wary. ‘Will it take long? I have to leave for work soon.’
    ‘We can always drive you there,’ Murray said.
    Hibbins licked his lips. ‘Has something happened?’
    ‘We have some bad news, I’m afraid,’ Murray said. ‘Why don’t you take a seat.’
    Hibbins reached behind him to touch the back of a chair, but didn’t sit. ‘I’d rather just know.’ He looked anxious now as well as wary.
    Ella said, ‘We’re sorry to have to tell you that Alicia Bayliss is dead.’
    Hibbins looked stunned. ‘What happened?’
    ‘Unfortunately she was killed last night,’ Murray said.
    ‘Like in a car accident?’
    ‘Deliberately,’ Ella said. ‘I’m sorry to say she was murdered.’
    ‘My god,’ Clarence said. ‘Are you serious?’
    Hibbins stared at them.
    ‘Would you like to sit down?’ Murray said gently.
    Hibbins sank onto the chair. Ella watched him. His forehead was creased, tears starting to well, hands limp in his lap.
    ‘I can’t believe it,’ he said. ‘Where did it happen? I mean, was she out somewhere? Or at work?’
    ‘She was at home, but we’re trying to work out what happened,’ Ella said. ‘So if you feel up to it, we need to ask you a few questions.’
    ‘Okay,’ he said faintly.
    She turned to Sam Clarence. ‘Would