Annie had stormed out of the house after Charlotte had had yet another go at her for murdering Alec the pig. She’d then stocked her basket with the day’s deliveries and headed off into the village via the riverbank path. At the craft shop, several women had delighted in telling Annie that, not five minutes earlier, they’d seen Charlotte being driven down the main street in the back of an unmarked police car. By the time she arrived at the station, she was in an anxious state.

Jack put her mind at ease straight away. ‘Charlotte is here to speak with us, Annie. I expect her to be back home with you by this evening . . . as long as she answers our questions, that is.’

‘Can I see her?’ Annie asked.

Jack shook his head. ‘This is official. She refused to speak to me at the house, which is why I had to bring her here.’

Annie’s mobile rang. She glanced at the screen and sent it to voicemail. ‘I doubt she refused to speak with you because she has anything to hide,’ she explained, trying to help as best she could. ‘It’ll be because I killed Alec. When she feels like she’s losing control, she shuts down, you see. She’s always been like that. Awful at expressing her feelings. She’s a brooder. What I’m saying is . . . she’s not a bad person, she’s just upset.’

Annie’s mobile rang twice more while she was talking. Her caller was so persistent that she eventually answered it, snapping, ‘Dad, not now! Sorry. Yes, well, I’m in the middle of something and you’re only calling about your honey, I suppose. Well then, wait! Give me five minutes and I’ll call you back.’ Then she hung up.

Jack explained that he’d be careful when speaking to Charlotte and take into account her emotional state, and when she realised she was not going to be able to speak to her, Annie sighed and said, ‘Tell her that I’m thinking of her then and that I’ll be at home. Waiting.’

Jack promised and Annie cycled away, with her mobile still beeping away in her pocket.

Jack headed towards the back cage, where Mason was patiently waiting for him. He slowed, with a frown on his face. ‘I just remembered something . . .’ Jack thought for a moment. ‘Charlotte and Annie told me that when Annie’s dad died he left them £200,000, which they used to pay off the mortgage. But that phone call was from Annie’s dad.’

Mason grinned. ‘So, where did they get the two hundred grand from?’ He clearly thought the money was Charlotte’s pay-off for being their gang’s insider.