In her attempt to grab Poppy Hepworth on Hawley Ridge, Renshaw had shoulder-barged Maggie onto the grass, causing her to lose her grip on the girl. What Renshaw had failed to take into account, however, was Julia Hepworth being right behind her, gaining fast – and determined to protect her daughter. Julia had cannoned into Renshaw’s back, sending her flying towards the wall, and in doing so had managed to reach out and grab Poppy’s arm and yank her to safety. Maggie, dazed on the ground, saw Renshaw correct her balance, but then Ewan started to topple backwards and he’d reached out in desperation and grabbed Renshaw . . . and pulled her over the side of the viaduct with him.

Renshaw died instantly and by landing first had broken Ewan’s fall. He was now recovering in hospital with a broken pelvis and multiple leg fractures, under police guard after being charged with the murder of Violet ‘Ruby’ Castle.

‘This will be one of the hardest things either of us will ever have to do, but we must,’ said Umpire, his voice thick with emotion. ‘We owe it to her family.’

The thought of Renshaw’s parents prompted a fresh wave of tears. Maggie had spoken to them a couple of times on the phone since they’d learned of their daughter’s death and their bewilderment at her passing was heart-wrenching. Anna had left their home in Newcastle to return to Mansell after telling them she’d been called back in to work, so to discover she was still on compassionate leave at the time of her death was baffling. Why had she gone to Hawley Ridge that day? Maggie had tried her best to explain that, however misguidedly, Renshaw had simply been trying to do her job, but they still didn’t understand.

‘Come on,’ said Umpire. ‘Let’s go and wait with the others.’

Maggie kept her head down and her hand clenched in Umpire’s as they walked slowly across the car park to the entrance of the crematorium, to the slip road where the hearse would draw up. There must’ve been at least three hundred mourners there. So many faces, many of them strangers, but plenty she did recognize: Nathan; Burton; Pearl and Omana, the CID admins; Imogen Tyler and her mother, Grace. Julia Hepworth had wanted to come but had been advised against it: emotions were too raw for it to be acceptable for her to attend. The CPS were presently deciding whether it was in the public interest to charge Poppy with Benji’s involuntary manslaughter but to widespread surprise his mum was petitioning against her being prosecuted. Imogen felt Poppy had already been through enough at the hands of her father.

Glancing up, Maggie saw DI Gant, the FL Coordinator, approaching. Normally reticent, he gave her a hug and when they moved apart she could see he was choked up too.

‘Such a waste,’ he said sadly.