Kesey pushed her plate across the table. ‘We’re going to have to pull her in. She’s got to be interviewed. There’s no avoiding it.’ Lewis stuffed half her bacon roll into his open mouth, pushing it to the side with his tongue, hamster-like, cheek bulging, before replying. ‘Are you sure? It seems like a lot of crap to me.’

‘It’s got to be checked out. There’s no alternative.’

Lewis sighed, resigned to the inevitable. ‘Do you want me to do it? I’ve got a couple of hours free today if that’s any good to you? I’m sure I can clarify matters without too much trouble.’

‘No, I know you’ve got your doubts, that’s obvious. It’s something I want us to do together. But before we do, I want you to speak to Megan’s doctor, and check out her bank records too. I’m going to have a chat with social services and the head at Lottie’s school. Let’s see if there’s anything we need to be aware of before we approach her. If we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it properly. No half measures.’

‘I guess we’d better search the house as well then, attic and all if we’re going to go that far. You seem to want to go the whole hog.’

‘Yeah, you’re right, we will. Better safe than sorry.’

‘Do you want another coffee? I’m buying if you fancy one.’

Kesey rose to her feet, twisting the silver ring on the middle finger of one hand with the fingers and thumb of the other. ‘No, you’re all right, thanks, mate. I’m going to get on with those calls. I’ll meet you in reception at eleven o’clock sharp. I don’t want to leave it any longer than we have to. We can talk on the way. You can do the driving. I’m too knackered to be safe.’

‘Are you planning to update the chief super? You know, just in case I bump into him in the corridor. I wouldn’t want to speak out of turn.’

Kesey screwed up her face. ‘You have got to be kidding me. When we’ve got something concrete, I’ll let him know. Until then, we keep it to ourselves. The less he finds out, the better. If I never had to speak to him again, it would make my year.’

19

Lewis knocked on Kesey’s office door at 10.40 a.m., opening it and walking in without waiting to be invited.

Kesey looked up at him and then at her watch. ‘I thought we agreed on eleven o’clock?’

The DS pushed a pile of crime files aside before resting his weight on the edge of Kesey’s cluttered desk. ‘I’ve had a word with Megan’s GP, a Dr Potter. She was reluctant to talk to me at first. You know, medical confidentiality and all that, but she opened up when I stressed the urgency of the investigation.’

‘Oh, shit, here we go. Tell me the worst.’

Lewis adjusted his position, unable to make himself comfortable. ‘Megan suffered PND, postnatal depression. It was bad. She was in one hell of a state, apparently.’