‘If Benji was pushed there may be physical signs that show up on the digital autopsy,’ she said carefully. ‘But it won’t tell us whether it was accidental or deliberate, so that’s where other evidence comes in, like witness statements. Only when we’ve gathered enough conclusive evidence can my senior officers present it to the CPS to see if there is a case to answer.’

Imogen’s eyes narrowed.

‘Is it because Poppy’s a kid?’

‘No. She’s a year above the age of criminality so she can be charged if the evidence is there. But we’re still gathering it, so you’ll need to be patient. It could be weeks before anything is decided.’

Imogen tucked her feet up on the chair and rested her chin on her knees. She looked almost child-like herself, especially dressed in red shorts and a black vest top. It was the most anyone would want to be wearing on a sweltering day like this but Maggie was sweating again in trousers because she couldn’t stand wearing skirts.

‘How is Poppy?’ Imogen asked. ‘How are her parents?’

Maggie stalled for a moment. Would it help Imogen to know they were managing to hold it together, or would telling her they were falling apart ease her pain? Whichever she said it probably wouldn’t be the right answer, so she decided to fudge it.

‘I don’t really know. My priority has been you, not them.’

‘I keep thinking I should hate Poppy, but I can’t.’ Imogen sighed and lowered her legs back to the ground. ‘She has the same lovely thick hair that Julia used to have, except Julia’s was dark brown. I used to be so jealous of it – my hair’s as thin as cotton thread. Julia’s mum would put it in a gorgeous French plait every morning.’

‘I thought you didn’t remember her that well?’

Imogen shrugged. ‘I don’t. Her hair stuck in my mind because it was so lovely.’

‘I’m surprised you never bumped into each other after Benji started at Rushbrooke.’

‘The older the kids are, the less involved parents are. Benji walked there and back alone and I only met Ewan because we helped out on the same school trip.’

‘Where to?’

‘London Zoo, just before Easter.’ Imogen picked at the hem of her shorts. ‘He’s a nice man, and a good dad. We have a laugh.’

‘I wonder why he never mentioned Julia was his wife.’

‘Why would he?’

‘Well, because of your history. It looks like he might have known about it.’

Maggie was careful how she worded it; she didn’t want Imogen to know she had watched Poppy being interviewed with her parents present and had seen Julia’s reaction on discovering Ewan had been setting up the play dates.