‘I used the tracker tag to follow him right to Marcus’s front door, and then actually into the building. Pity it doesn’t also transmit what it hears. Since then I’ve been waiting for Marcus to call me.’ I looked up at the clock for the umpteenth time—five past six. ‘He should have called by now. I can’t imagine that Valance would have been there longer than he needed to be.’

I remotely switched the tag on again. The blue dot was no longer in Leyburn Street. Indeed, it was no longer in Middleham but about two miles away in the village of East Witton, and it was stationary.

‘Bugger,’ I said with feeling. ‘He must have taken Marcus with him, to talk to him in his car.’

‘Is that a problem?’

‘A big problem. Marcus must have been rumbled.’

‘Rumbled?’

‘Yes. I had convinced Marcus to make a recording of their conversation by hiding his phone somewhere in his room. Even to make a video of it if he could. Perhaps Valance found the phone.’ I stared at the blue dot and drummed my fingers on the kitchen table in frustration. ‘Or maybe Valance didn’t find it but he’s just being ultra-cautious.’ I drummed my fingers some more. ‘And I don’t dare call Marcus just in case his phone is switched on and Valance is still with him.’

‘Is secretly recordin’ a conversation with someone in your own home legal?’ Chico asked.

‘I think so. It’s certainly more legal than secretly tracking them with a NeverLoseIt tag. I suppose it depends on what you use the recording for. If you publish without consent, it might be a breach of privacy. But journalists do it all the time. They sometimes get into trouble, mind, unless they can prove it’s in the public interest.’

‘Do you think this case would be in the public interest?’ Chico asked.

Before I had a chance to answer him, my phone rang.

It was Marcus. I put him on speaker so Chico could hear.

‘Oh, my God. Oh, my God,’ he said breathlessly. ‘That was awful. I’ve never been so bloody frightened in all my life.’

And that, I thought, was quite a statement from a steeplechase jockey.

‘What happened?’

‘He pushed his way in as soon as I opened the front door. Almost dragged me up the stairs to my room, he was so angry.’

So much for me imagining Marcus leading Valance up the stairs.

‘Then what?’

‘He demanded to see my phone! God, I was bricking it.’

‘So what did you do?’