‘Very well.’ She put her hands in her lap and straightened her back. ‘I found out soon after it began. I’d met Toni on an online book club. She was a character, I liked her, and when we realised we lived close by, we met up. I used to have coffee with her and discuss books. She was an interesting woman. Not what I’d call worldly,’ Barrett wondered what Marion considered to be ‘worldly’, ‘but she were curious about the world and had a passion for literature. We got on well enough and enjoyed each other’s company. Well, anyway, she told me she’d met a chap and that she were considering having an affair. I said “don’t be daft, you’ve got a good man”, but she said he was very persuasive. Anyway, next thing I knew, her marriage to Mike had ended. I only met Mike once, lovely man, and I was sad for her when the marriage fell apart. One afternoon, when we were chatting online, she confessed. Said that this Grant had been a mistake, but that it was too late and Mike had found out. I didn’t know nowt about how he found out, all I know is that it was the end of the marriage. Toni was actually so upset she stopped seeing Grant. A few months later she’d met Gerald, and soon after they were married. I didn’t think anything of it until Shirley joined the book club.’ Marion’s shoulders dropped with despair. ‘It became obvious when we had our book club Christmas party, and Shirley showed up with her husband. I was daft and hadn’t put two and two together at first, but Toni acted very strange all evening, and the next time I saw her she told me that Shirley’s Grant was the Grant. I was flabbergasted. It was clear to me that Shirley had no idea, so I told Toni to forget about it and move on with her life.’ Marion looked like she might draw breath, but didn’t, and Palmer scribbled like a man possessed as her verbal diarrhoea was expelled. ‘I have to say I found it quite uncomfortable being in Gerald’s presence after that. He and Alfred play golf together, don’t you, love?’ she looked briefly at her husband, who nodded, ‘and so whenever he was at the house, I made my excuses. But all this happened so long ago. Toni hadn’t said another word about it in all these years, so I didn’t think you needed to know.’

‘Mrs Bolton, do you think you might be able to recall some slightly more specific dates?’ Palmer wasn’t hopeful.

‘Oh, pet.’ She looked briefly embarrassed, before ignoring her slip up and quickly moving on. ‘It was so long ago. I really don’t think this has anything to do with her death.’