‘Paul is an architect, yes.’ He has at least twenty years to go before he retires. What game is DI Gordon playing now?

He shakes his head. ‘Not any more, not for a while.’

‘He’s a senior partner, you can check with the practice: Chorley-Smith, Atkinson and Humphreys.’

‘We did.’ He crosses his arms. ‘Two interns logged a complaint of harassment against him about seven months ago: inappropriate comments, text messages, that kind of thing. When we investigated that, we were told he had since been sacked for financial misconduct. He’s been out of work for half a year.’

‘That’s impossible. He goes to work; he has a steady income—’

‘From your daughter’s trust fund of which, unusually, I gather he is the sole trustee.’ He removes his glasses, rubs the small red patches on either side of his nose and replaces them. ‘We found this out when we looked further into your husband’s situation following his previous questioning; he claimed, you see, that he left the Kershaws’ house early on the morning of their son’s drowning to go to work. Although no blame attaches to him for that tragedy, we already knew he’d been sacked so it was clear he wasn’t telling us the whole truth. Investigation into his financial affairs revealed the true situation.’

‘If I’m the only trustee, I can instantly invest on her behalf when the market looks good.’ Paul had smiled his most winning smile. ‘You won’t have the bother of signing, which could hold things up. I know about these things, Melly. You haven’t a clue.’

No wonder he’s been angry for months; drinking too much and taking it out on her. He’d been terrified of discovery. It’s unsurprising he disliked being questioned by the police; he must have been scared they’d find him out. He’d have thought himself safe, at least until the money ran out. Izzy’s money, given by her parents. Rage begins to build.

‘Tell me about his violence towards you.’

This swift change is clever; he wants to use her anger. She knows this, even as her reservations are swept away, even as her face heats with fury.

‘He’s always been rough in bed, at least that’s what he called it. I was only fifteen. I thought what he did was normal.’

That’s not quite true, she’d thought she deserved it. She’s thought that for years, but not any more. It’s different now. She glances round the kitchen as if to remind herself she doesn’t live here; she doesn’t live with Paul. She’s broken away, broken free.

‘We married when I was twenty-one. The violence increased; it’s been worse in the last year, much worse in the last few months.’ He’d seemed so stressed – little wonder, money must have been running out fast.

‘You never thought of leaving him before now?’