Sunlight falling through the rain like jewels. A perfect, synchronised dance of water plummeting around her and shrouding the ground, the buildings and the people. A fall of light in which people were defined by the shadows they cast, dancing endlessly around one another until-

‘Izzy?’ She jerked back to herself, to find Martin Nash staring at her. Her partner had two years on her but it could have been five. His hairline was retreating over his head and there was a grey colour to his skin that came from too many night shifts. He was frowning, his eyebrows knitting together.

‘You were miles away.’

She smiled. ‘Sorry, just taking a moment.’

He nodded. ‘Can I ask a favour?’

‘Sure.’

‘Take a moment when we’re back at the office, not here.’

She nodded vigorously, her face colouring. ‘Sorry Martin.’

He smiled. ‘It’s okay. What were you using?’

‘Just the default. The rainbow shower.’

‘Popular.’

‘I know.’

He smiled thinly. ‘Amongst children.’

Nash pulled the car off the street and down into a parking garage. ‘We’re here.’ There were two other cars present, one police black and white and a medical examiner’s van. The crime scene had had to be taped off using the pillars of the building, creating a larger space than was needed. Martin had once described stepping across that tape as like entering a boxing ring but for her, it was something different, closer to opening a jigsaw puzzle.

‘Anything about this look familiar?’

The joke was as old as the case and her response was instinctive. ‘Only when I open my eyes. Lucas, good morning.’

The coroner, Lucas Pugh, waved a gloved hand and walked over to them. Pugh was small and slight and precise, his movements lightning quick and completely accurate. ‘Izzy, Martin, how are you?’

‘Better, I suspect, than him. What’s the story?’

Lucas gestured behind them. ‘Same as always. Follow me.’

He led them through the tape and she could see Nash flinch.

‘You okay?’

He nodded. ‘Sure, just…’

.