‘He’s intelligent in his own way but there’s no way Edgar McKee could have come up with language like this,’ said Clay. ‘Norma Maguire set the traps, Edgar McKee pounced on the ensnared victims.’

She looked at Hendricks and saw deep unease creep into his eyes.

‘What is it, Bill?’

Hendricks said, ‘A part of me’s thinking we all want this to be Edgar McKee too much. Nothing’s come off his laptop or phone. There was nothing in his flat to connect him to any of these women. He doesn’t do internet dating sites. So as we’re looking at it, Norma Maguire’s been luring them in and Edgar McKee’s been collecting them from near the places where the meet-ups were arranged. But he’s got a cast-iron alibi for Francesca Christie.’

Clay considered the problem.

‘I’m thinking Francesca Christie was the odd one out. I don’t think Edgar met the victims until date night. But Norma knew Francesca. That alters the dynamic completely. While Edgar was with Susan Hurst in the hotel room, Francesca might have been approached by Norma. Norma could have talked her into coming with her, despite the fact that Francesca had just walked out on her. Francesca comes across as a sweetie. Maybe Norma played her out on a guilt trip. Anyone?’

‘McKee’s alibi doesn’t rule him out for Annie Boyd or Amanda Winton, but Sandra O’Day? He’s got a great alibi. He wasn’t even in the country, he was in Amsterdam. We could be looking at a third party. What do you think, Eve?’ said Riley.

‘We can ask the question but as it stands right now we’re not going to get the truth from either of them.’

‘Daniel Ball?’ suggested Stone.

‘She’s been blackmailing him for years over his homosexual love affair. I suppose it isn’t a massive leap to embroiling him in murder. Maybe she had something on Francesca. Maybe that’s how she managed to get her to go with her. We can get in touch with Lydia, Daniel’s wife, check on where he was on the nights Annie Boyd and Amanda Winton went missing.’

‘Want me to go and see her?’ asked Stone.

‘Yes, thank you. You’ve got her number in case she’s not in.’

Stone stood up with his eyes fixed on the clock and Clay guessed they were all of one mind. Time was growing increasingly tight.

‘Yes, Eve.’

As he walked towards the door, Clay said to Riley, ‘I want you in on the next interview with Edgar McKee. Given what Winters sent to my phone from Susan Hurst, two female faces may prove twice as distressing as one. Bill, come in with us. Barney, stay here in case anything comes in.’

Clay looked at Norma Maguire laptop. ‘Have you backed everything up, Poppy?’

‘Everything’s sorted.’