‘We’re just here to speak to your mum,’ Constable King said. ‘Why don’t you help me take your little sister in and we can have a chat?’

Beth looked between Constable King and me and then to DI Bradley as if she didn’t know who or what to trust.

‘Want to stay with Mammy,’ Molly said, her bottom lip wobbling.

‘Your mummy’ll be right here,’ Constable King said, getting down to Molly’s level and smiling at her. ‘We’re just going to have a little chat, is that okay? Maybe you could show me your toys?’

At the thought of showing off her My Little Pony collection, Molly flipped from wanting to be at my side to proudly leading Constable King in through the door. Beth was altogether more reticent.

‘Can I stay with you, Mum?’ she asked.

I looked to DI Bradley for guidance.

‘If you don’t mind, I’d really like to talk to your mum alone first. Just for a little bit and then you can come in.’

‘How about you make a pot of tea?’ I said, trying to calm my thumping heart and look in control for Beth.

The truth was, of course, that I didn’t feel in control at all. DI Bradley wouldn’t be coming to my house unless something had happened.

‘What about school?’ Beth asked.

‘We’ll talk about that in a bit,’ I said, adding to DI Bradley that I’d really need to phone my work if I was going to be late.

As Beth reluctantly headed in the direction of the kitchen, DI Bradley told me that it might be better to tell them I’d need the day off.

My stomach lurched so far that I was sure I’d throw up the tea and toast I’d had for breakfast just half an hour before. I felt myself start to shake and I stumbled as I tried to sit down.

‘Has something else happened?’ I asked. ‘Has someone else been hurt? Have you caught him?’

‘I’ll assume you’ve not seen The Chronicle this morning?’ he said.

I shook my head. I didn’t routinely buy it and to be honest, after what had been printed on Saturday – all those gory details – I’d decided that I’d make a point of never buying it again.

‘I’m afraid some information sensitive to the investigation has got into the public arena,’ he said. ‘This information is relevant to you and also to your friend, Julie Cosgrove.’

‘Is it about the flowers?’ I asked.

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. ‘It is related to that, but there’s more. Does the name Laura O’Loughlin mean anything to you?’

It rang a bell, but I couldn’t place her immediately.

‘It’s familiar, but I’m not sure I know her and I definitely don’t know her well.’