‘A mix-up?’ Carole asked. She dabbed her eyes with a crumpled tissue. ‘Not as far as I could tell. I was already in my seat when the two ladies arrived. I was knitting a baby blanket for Rachel, so there was a bit of a kerfuffle letting them past.’

‘And you didn’t notice anyone challenge them?’

‘No. If anything, I was impressed with the whole organisation considering the staff were so new. What an induction they had that night.’ She shook her head.

‘I know this is going to be difficult, but I want to show you something that might prod your memory,’ Leanne said, taking out her phone.

Joe had suggested Leanne take another look at the videos of the disaster that had been uploaded by members of the public onto YouTube. She had felt voyeuristic, but it was necessary and it had been fruitful.

‘I’ve come across a recording that was taken further back in the stalls. The stage is bright so it only shows the audience in silhouette, but I think I’ve spotted you,’ Leanne said. ‘Would you be OK to look at it?’

‘No,’ Carole said, but she was smiling as she took the phone.

As Carole watched the clip, Leanne asked, ‘You can just make out the two figures sitting next to you. Does it trigger anything new?’

Carole shook her head. ‘I’m afraid not. Are there any others?’

‘Nothing that gives more detail.’

‘You know, I took some videos. Obviously I was filming what was happening onstage, but you never know,’ Carole said. ‘You’re lucky, I was going to delete them.’

After checking her mobile, Carole handed it over to Leanne. There were three recordings, each no more than thirty seconds long. The first was a close-up of the performers onstage, and the second looked like it was going to be more of the same.

‘When you talked to the women, did they sound local?’ Leanne asked as she continued to watch the screen.

Carole seemed to consider her answer. ‘The blonde was definitely local, but I can’t be sure about the other girl. They were mostly chatting to each other before the performance, whispering and giggling. A lovely couple.’

Leanne had reached the end of the second clip at the point where Carole had tilted the phone ever so slightly as the recording stopped. The image was frozen on an image of a woman’s lap. She had her hands folded gently on top of each other.

Realising what Carole had just said, Leanne looked up. ‘They were a couple?’

‘They were holding hands at one point. I thought it was nice.’