Joseph pulled out his phone, spoke briefly to Cat, then flipped it shut. ‘She’s going to run it through the computer, not that I think it’ll get us far. I can’t see this being the only one, can you? The estate’s probably covered in them.’

They walked across the road towards Archie’s house, and Nikki paused at the gate. ‘This is not going to be easy.’ Her voice was low. ‘A hell of a lot rests on how we deal with this. Are you up for it?’

Joseph nodded. ‘I haven’t needed my negotiator’s skills for a while, but I guess you never forget.’ He opened the gate and held it back for her. ‘Shall we go?’

Archie Leonard sat on a cream leather sofa, and stared, granite-faced, at Nikki. ‘Whoever did this is going to pay. My God, they’ll pay!’

‘Oh, they will, Archie. You have my word.’ Nikki chose her words carefully. ‘But right now, you know what I have to ask you, don’t you?’

‘The identification?’

‘I’m afraid so. And I’m sorry you have to go through it. There is no doubt that it is her, but we need either you or her mother as next of kin to formalize the process.’

‘I’ll go. I’m her guardian.’ He paused. ‘I was her guardian while Frank is inside. And Margaret is in no state to see Lisa Jane, not like that.’ The man drew in a deep shaky breath and looked back to Nikki. ‘The family will not take this well, you know that, don’t you?’

‘Archie, you have to convince them to leave this to us. We have another girl to think about. Another Carborough family is also going through hell. A vendetta on the estate could seriously hinder our enquiries about Kerry Anderson, and about your niece. It’s bad enough with the gangs and the masks. Don’t make it even more difficult for us, please.’

‘I care about you, Nikki, you know that, but I went against the family when I walked through that door to the nick. It was not a move that they appreciated, so …’ he shrugged, ‘… so, they may not be in any frame of mind to listen to me right now. And frankly, I think I would actually like to be first to get my hands around the neck of the animal who killed my girl.’

‘Of course you would.’ said Joseph quietly. ‘That’s natural for any loving man.’ Nikki watched as Joseph fixed Archie Leonard with a penetrating stare. ‘But Lisa Jane was not your only responsibility. As I understand it, you have three more girls to consider. Your own two daughters, and Frank’s other girl, Melissa. And you have boys. There’s nothing to say that one of them may not be targeted. Surely you’ll want to channel all your considerable resources into protecting them?’