‘Welcome to the eight o’clock news. Our headlines today: a body has been discovered in the River Cam, in Cambridge city centre. The female was discovered by students returning home after a party, in the early hours of this morning. The police have not yet confirmed the cause of death, or the identity of the woman, but are asking members of the public who may have seen something, to come forward. In other news …’

She swung her chunky legs out of the bed and sat on the side, looking out of the crack in the curtains. The world was waking up and she watched as the bin men crashed around emptying bins into the truck. Shirley was initially extremely irritated when Dean had called, but sitting there, having heard the news, she could feel a ball of tension forming in her stomach. Telling herself that it was just a result of the kebab she’d eaten the night before, she got up and went for a shower. Something had to help drown out the noise that was coming from her daughter’s bedroom and the feeling of sickness in her stomach, and the pressure of the water might just do it.

Back at Parkside police station, DI Palmer was sitting in his seat, clicking a biro furiously, while he waited for DCI Barrett to appear. There had been a significant development with the Toni Jones case, and he couldn’t wait to break the news to his boss, who had been foul-tempered the past few days.

Palmer knew the DCI was often pricklier during the summer months. He’d lost his wife to cancer in July, three years ago, and he was always affected during the weeks leading up to her anniversary. Barrett had never talked about losing his wife, but everyone who knew him knew what a difficult time it had been for him, and could see that it still took its toll on him emotionally.

When Barrett appeared, having spent his first night at home since the discovery of Toni’s body, Palmer flew out of his chair and bounded towards him like an overzealous puppy.

‘Sir, there has been a huge development with the case.’ Palmer was nearly breathless with excitement.

‘At least let me get in the door, Joe.’ Barrett smiled for the first time since Palmer could remember.

‘This morning, the body of a woman was discovered in the river, close to Bridge Street.’

‘Yes, yes,’ Barrett said impatiently, ‘I know all this.’

‘The CSI is sure she has a fractured skull, and there were marks around her neck that look like bruising.’ Barrett raised his eyebrows.

‘And?’

‘And a purse was found on the victim.’ Palmer was enjoying his brief moment of power.

‘Get on with it.’ Barrett’s amusement at the situation was waning.

‘We believe the victim was a Miss Janet Cox.’ Palmer watched with glee as the information was processed by Barrett.