Maggie hesitated. She always believed no criminal deed should go unpunished but with this one she found she couldn’t be so sure. Even if Poppy had forced Benji up on the wall against his better judgement, should she be punished for him losing his footing? Scotty was the same age and Maggie knew she would hate for him to be tried for a death he probably never meant to happen. His whole life destroyed because of a mistake? But the answer came to her as an image of Imogen crying popped into her head.

‘Benji’s mum would be devastated if the person directly or indirectly responsible for his death didn’t answer for their actions in some way,’ she said reluctantly. ‘There needs to be some kind of resolution for her sake.’

‘Even if we make a case for involuntary manslaughter, the CPS could decide it’s not in the public interest to prosecute because of Poppy’s age,’ Nathan said. ‘Plenty of cases with minors where that’s happened.’

Renshaw glared at him.

‘Before we decide to roll over and give up, let’s gather that evidence, shall we? Then we can decide what case there is to answer and whether it was deliberate or not. First and foremost I want to know about the dynamic between Benji and Poppy – were they friends, was there any bad blood between them, any reported incidents of bullying, was she the class mean girl? I want to know why she and Benji were on that wall in the first place and whose idea it was.’

‘Imogen and I have talked a little bit about it already,’ said Maggie. ‘She described the kids as best friends who socialized out of school.’

Renshaw frowned. ‘That’s odd. Julia Hepworth said she hadn’t seen Imogen for years until this morning. You know the mums went to Rushbrooke together?’

‘No, Imogen hasn’t mentioned it.’

‘If Julia didn’t even know Imogen was living back in Mansell, who was organizing the play dates with the kids?’

‘I don’t think they call them play dates when they’re eleven,’ Maggie grinned.

‘You know what I mean. But I’m right, aren’t I? Parents usually arrange for their kids to get together.’

‘It must be Poppy’s dad then,’ said Nathan.

‘The way Julia reacted to Imogen I don’t think they were friends at school,’ said Maggie. ‘Did you see her face?’

‘I did. Like she was chewing a wasp,’ said Renshaw.

‘So I’m going to hazard a guess that Mr Hepworth hasn’t told his wife he’s been organizing play dates with Imogen,’ said Maggie.

‘That’s going to make for an interesting line of questioning tomorrow,’ said Renshaw with a smirk. ‘What’s the story with Benji’s dad?’

‘He died when Benji was a baby.’

‘Shit, Imogen’s young to be a widow,’ said Renshaw. ‘She’s only forty, isn’t she?’

‘Thirty-nine,’ Maggie corrected.