After a brief silence, Potting asked, ‘Niall, during the search of your house following your arrest last night, blood was discovered on your kitchen worktop and on the floor area beneath. How do you account for that?’

‘I already explained that to the two officers who came to see me yesterday morning, after I called the police to report my wife missing,’ he replied. ‘I told them I’d cut my hand on a potato peeler when I was rummaging in a kitchen drawer for the bottle opener. I was frustrated because my wife never puts anything back in the right place.’

Potting continued. ‘Was your wife with you when you cut your finger – as you mentioned – on the potato peeler?’

Ignoring a cautionary look from his solicitor, he responded, ‘No, she wasn’t with me. How clear do you need me to make it? Eden got out of my car in the Tesco car park at around 3.15 p.m. on Sunday and vanished off the face of the earth. I tried to open a bottle when I got home, you know, to calm my nerves – I was sort of angry and worried about her at the same time – and I cut my finger. I did not squirt blood over my wife as she wasn’t there.’

Potting waited patiently for him to calm down. Then he asked, ‘Can you run through the account that you gave to the police regarding Eden’s passport?’

Paternoster recounted his explanation about the passport to the officers. He also confirmed that he did not know the whereabouts of her mobile phone.

The two detectives then asked him a number of questions about his and his wife’s friends and relatives and their community ties. He told the officers about Eden’s work and office colleagues. Once that part of the interview had concluded, Potting turned to him. ‘Niall, during the initial search last night at the house, forensic officers found a T-shirt hidden behind a bathroom inspection plate in your en-suite. Early examination of the T-shirt revealed what appeared to be some blood spots and a tear.’

Paternoster gave a convincing performance of looking mystified. ‘I’m sorry, I’ve absolutely no idea what you are talking about.’

‘You weren’t wearing one of your wife’s T-shirts when you cut your finger, by any chance, or used it to wipe the blood away?’ Exton asked.

Niall looked at him quizzically. ‘Why would I have done? She’s about four sizes smaller than me. No, no way. Maybe she fell over running and cut herself.’ He frowned. ‘Look, if you think I killed her you’re completely mistaken. I loved her, for God’s sake. I’ve been in financial shit since my business went bust – she’s kept us afloat. Do you people seriously think I would have killed the gravy train when I was down on my luck?’

Both detectives stared at him levelly. Then Exton said, ‘Is it correct that when the two officers attended yesterday morning, they asked you about your wife’s passport? You went to get it, then told them it had gone from its usual place?’