I don’t know if Ryan has tried to contact me. It might be childish, but I blocked his number on my phone. I have no desire to listen to anything he has to say. Knowing the arrogance of the man, he won’t have taken me seriously. He will think I’m just being a ‘typical woman’ and I didn’t really mean to quit my job.

He is probably thinking that I will come crawling back to him soon, or that he can talk me round with false promises of promotions and pay rises on the basis that I hand over my research on Jamesy Harte.

If only Declan would call me back. I check my phone again just in case I’ve missed a call, but there are no notifications.

I rub the muscles in my neck and shoulders; they are taut, tense. I can feel the beginnings of a headache. Ideally, I’d stand under a hot shower for half an hour before falling into bed, but I am too wired. I need a second pair of eyes on this. Someone to help me make some sense of it. To give me a different perspective.

I look at the notes again and it strikes me that just as Declan is so sure Jamesy is innocent, Niall is equally convinced of his guilt. Niall, who was so nice today when I had a panic attack. When he’d warned me to be wary of Declan, he genuinely seemed to care. He might just be the person to help me see this more clearly.

I’m only calling him about work, I tell myself as I wait for the call to connect. Nothing more.

He answers. ‘Ingrid? Is everything okay?’

‘Look, there’s been a big development in the story, and I sort of wondered if you were still in Derry and maybe we could talk about it.’

‘As it happens, I am still in Derry. At my parents’ house. Someone took a key to the side of my car and my da’s getting a friend of his to have a look at it before I go back. So, I’m here ’til tomorrow afternoon at least.’

My heart quickens. Someone has attacked his car?

‘Shit, I’m sorry. You don’t think it’s the same person who vandalised my car?’

I hear movement and the sound of a door closing.

‘Sorry,’ he says, ‘I was going somewhere more private. I suspect it might have been Declan, so it might well be the same person who attacked your car if I’m right about that, too.’

‘Jesus,’ I sigh.

‘He’s not right in the head,’ Niall sniffs. ‘Look. It’s not that much damage, but it goes to show that you really can never know what he is capable of. He’s forever getting himself into trouble like this.’

‘I’ve been trying to get hold of him,’ I admit.

‘Why would you do that?’