Jane closed the notebook in which she had been jotting down notes. Spencer took this as meaning the interview was over, but actually it was an old trick Jane had learned. Let them relax and think, just as Spencer had done, that there were no more questions.

‘Although you said you did not have a physical relationship with Mr. Foxley, you had a confrontation with his ex-wife, didn’t you?’ Jane said quickly, catching Laura off-guard.

‘Jesus Christ!’ Laura pushed back her desk chair. ‘Justine is mentally unstable. She had accused me of having an affair with her husband on numerous occasions but she never accepted my denials. Then one time, when he had left his dachshund in my office because she was in heat, she kicked my door open. She had one of the dog leads with a chain on the end and she swung it at me. It very nearly hit me in the face. She was screaming . . . I think she was calling me a whore. I managed to get the dog lead away from her but in the scuffle she fell and hit her head against the side of my desk.’

Jane and Spencer stayed silent as Laura pulled her chair back to her desk and picked up her pencil again.

‘She wasn’t unconscious, thank goodness. But the entire thing had been overheard by Rita and Angie, and I don’t know who else was passing in the corridor. It was humiliating and embarrassing. I wanted to hand in my notice, but Charles persuaded me to stay. I eventually agreed on the condition that he kept his wife, or now ex-wife, under control.’

‘When did this incident take place?’ Jane asked.

‘Two years ago, perhaps more. But I would say if you’re looking for someone capable of murder, you should question the ex-Mrs. Foxley.’

Spencer stood up. ‘Thank you very much for your time.’

Laura ushered them out of her office. ‘I do hope you don’t think badly of me. But I’m sure under these awful circumstances you want the truth.’

As the door shut behind them, Spencer let out a deep sigh. ‘Bloody hell, this is a snake pit.’

‘And we’ve only just started,’ Jane added.

*

Charles Foxley’s Jaguar and Volvo were taken into the station yard. Three young forensic scientists examined the Volvo, which appeared to have been the main transport for his dogs. There were dirty blankets, dog bowls, packets of dog treats and two worn dog leads, and the interior hadn’t been cleaned for some considerable time. Numerous unidentified fingerprints were taken. In total contrast, his Jaguar was in pristine condition. They had found no bloodstains, and no evidence that anyone other than Charles Foxley had driven it. However, in the glove compartment, they found a number of parking tickets and these were taken into the incident room to have the locations checked out.