The ‘somewhere more private’ was not as bad as Rufus had been bracing himself for. But then, he’d been half-expecting the detective to drag him into the wilderness and execute him, so most things were an improvement on that.

Still, his life had started to flash before his eyes as he was led to Logan’s car. He’d instinctively felt in his pocket for his phone—he had 999 on speed-dial, just in case—but what was he going to do, call the police? The place was heaving with them, and the brute in the overcoat was apparently the one in charge.

Was this what he paid his taxes for? To be manhandled by some fascist with a badge? It was one thing to do it to other people—lesser people—but he had standing. He was important. This sort of thing simply shouldn’t be allowed.

“Get in,” Logan had instructed, opening the passenger door of his BMW. For the first time ever, he almost wished he still had his old Fiesta, so he could clunk the bastard’s head against the top of the door frame as he helped him duck inside.

“Where are you taking me?” Rufus asked, but most of the brash and bluster was gone.

Logan hadn’t answered, and had instead just glowered until Rufus had buckled and climbed in.

A few seconds later, the DCI had jumped into the driver’s seat. So far, though, he’d made no move to start the car, and had instead just rubbed his hands together to warm them, and made a few remarks about the cold.

“I think maybe we got off on the wrong foot, Mr Boyle,” Logan began. “I’m sure you’ll appreciate with a case like this, it’s something of a stressful time.”

“Yes, well, for you and me both,” Rufus said, finding some of that earlier attitude. He stopped short of complaining about the money he was losing, though, which was probably just as well.

“Aye. For everyone,” Logan said. “But mostly for the family in that house. Anything we’re going through now, is a fraction of what they faced. There were children. You know?”

Rufus nodded. It was slow, and sad, and deliberate, like he wanted his sympathy to be noted. “Two of them. Yes. I saw it on the booking. And they’re…? They’re all…?”

“They are, yes.”

Rufus shuddered. “Oh, how ghastly.”

“Aye, you can say that again,” Logan confirmed.

“What happened? Do you know?”

“Not yet. These things take time, as I’m sure you’ll appreciate. We want to build a picture of the family’s movements so we can start working the whole thing out. I’m hoping you can help us with that, Mr Boyle.”