‘There’s no briefing until later so you’re fine. We detained four of Violet Castle’s clients for questioning this morning and I want statements from them first. In fact, I’d rather you went round to have a word with Benji Tyler’s mum instead of coming here,’ he said.

Maggie was confused. ‘Yesterday you told me to keep my distance.’

‘That was before she got herself plastered all over the Internet.’

Maggie’s stomach plummeted to her feet. ‘What?’

‘She gave the Echo an exclusive interview for their website that’s already been picked up by the Mail, the Mirror and the BBC. Would you like to know what the headline is?’

Maggie didn’t, sensing how bad it was, but Umpire enlightened her regardless.

‘It’s “Why won’t they arrest my son’s killer?” next to a fetching picture of Imogen holding up Benji’s school photograph and clutching a sodden tissue. Goes right for the heart strings.’

Maggie slammed the heel of her hand against the steering wheel. Fucking Jennifer Jones. And bloody Grace, pushing her agenda.

‘I’m sorry, we should’ve known.’

‘Yes, you bloody well should.’

She knew Umpire was bollocking her as her boss, not her boyfriend, but she still found it uncomfortable. Likewise, she wanted to tell him about Jude turning up yesterday and how happy she was that Lou was going to let her see the children, but felt it inappropriate to mention when he was briefing her as SIO.

‘What does she say in the interview?’

‘Someone informed her that Rushbrooke was reopening today and Poppy was being allowed back, so she thinks it’s disgraceful the child involved in her son’s death is being given free rein by us to continue her life.’

‘I can’t believe the Echo has named Poppy,’ said Maggie. A horn tooted behind her and she inched her car forward as a small gap appeared between her bumper and the one in front.

‘It hasn’t, and it’s been careful not to mention her gender either – it describes her as “the child” or “them”. Then there’s loads of guff about Imogen’s grief.’

‘Don’t call it guff, Will – she is devastated.’

‘I know, but I wish she’d kept it to herself.’

This was why Umpire didn’t get family liaison. His focus was always more on the offender than the victim and it meant he sometimes lacked empathy when their relatives got in the way of him investigating. He would view the Echo report as a spanner in his works rather than a grieving mother venting in frustration.

‘The Chief Constable wants an explanation as to why we didn’t know.’