‘It might help for you to talk to someone about what’s happened, a counsellor who can help you process how you’re feeling,’ said Maggie. ‘I’m not trained to do that, but I could arrange for someone from Victim Support to contact you, if you want?’

‘Maybe . . . I don’t know.’ Imogen wiped her eyes again. ‘Do I have to decide now?’

‘Absolutely not, it’s whenever you’re ready. In the meantime, my job as your liaison is to answer any questions you have regarding our investigation into Benji’s death. I might not always be able to tell you information straight away, like if we need to keep something quiet so it doesn’t affect a future arrest or court proceedings, but I’ll always let you know if that’s the case.’

Imogen looked at her blankly.

‘Hasn’t Poppy been arrested yet?’

Maggie stilled. They hadn’t discussed any details yet, so how did Imogen know another child had been present when Benji died, let alone who she was?

‘She pushed him,’ Imogen went on, her face now set with a discernible flintiness, ‘and now he’s dead. You should be arresting her.’

Maggie fought to keep her expression neutral.

‘Where did you hear that?’

‘One of the mums saw Poppy being led into the school and then she overheard a policeman tell another one that it looked like she’d pushed Benji off the wall.’

Loose-lipped coppers and playground gossips . . . just what the investigation needed, thought Maggie grimly.

‘Is it true?’ Imogen pressed.

Maggie had been in the same hot seat enough times to know what information she could impart without tying herself in knots or jeopardizing the investigation.

‘There were two witnesses at the scene and we will be speaking to both of them. Only when we’ve got their statements and have gathered all the physical evidence will we have a clearer picture of what happened. I do understand you want someone to be held accountable for Benji’s death, but we can’t rush this process or mistakes will be made. For his sake we want to get it right.’

To her relief, Imogen nodded in agreement.

‘I also understand people will be speculating about what happened,’ Maggie went on, ‘but I promise you that’s all it is right now – speculation. They don’t know anything. So unless I tell you otherwise, disregard what anyone else says. Now, do you have a recent picture of Benji we could use? We’re not going to release it publicly, it would just be really helpful if we had one.’

She didn’t air the thought that followed – that it would be helpful for her colleagues who’d seen his broken little body to see him as perfect and whole again.

‘Yes, I do, his last school one, from just before Christmas. The original’s at home but I’ve got a copy on my phone.’