Again, her father paused. ‘Why? That’s the daftest thing I’ve heard in a long time.’ She imagined her father standing holding the phone with his chest puffed up. ‘Why do you need to be stuck there without your family because he decided to kill himself? It’s preposterous!’

For the first time since finding Dennis Wade’s body it dawned on Tilly that perhaps it wasn’t suicide. That would explain why the police needed her to hang around. The realisation did not sit well with her. ‘I don’t know, Dad, but I can’t just run home every time something bad happens. I want to stand on my own two feet. I’ll be okay, I promise.’

‘Your mother and I can come to you. Just say the word.’

‘Thanks, Dad. I’ll be okay. Please get Mum to give me a call when she’s back.’

‘Of course I will.’ She could hear the concern in his voice and began to regret making the call.

‘I’ve got Yuki, remember. It’s not so bad.’ But in truth she wished she could jump in her small aging Ford hatchback and drive, without stopping, back to the comfort of home, her family and Ilfracombe.

‘You call, if you need anything. Promise me you will. We love you.’

‘I know. Thanks, Dad.’

‘That’s what dads are for.’

Back at Parkside Police Station, which overlooked the famous Parker’s Piece where the first game of football with recognised rules was played, Elly Hale was busily tracking down the people who worked at the bookshop. The young sergeant, who was instantly recognisable because of the vampire red lipstick she wore, and her black-rimmed glasses, had been part of Barrett’s team for a few years and was making a name for herself as someone who was hard working and diligent.

While she tapped away at her laptop, in between making calls, her brow was furrowed. This was the second largest murder case she had worked, and it concerned her that is was so soon after the Book Club Murders that the team had investigated only months earlier.

Thankfully that case had ended with an arrest, yet the trial had yet to begin.

Cambridge, from the outside, appeared to be a calm and tranquil place, but like any city it had its underbelly and Elly was gradually learning how grim it could be.

Although the Book Club Murders had involved violent crimes, this new case – and the missing finger of the shop manager – was not something any of them had come across before. As a result, despite the incident room being a flurry of activity, everyone was strangely quiet. It wasn’t lost on Elly Hale that both cases were linked to the book world.

‘Only in Cambridge,’ she spoke to herself, under her breath, as she waited for the CCTV control room to answer the phone.

Eventually a gruff voice answered the call, ‘Control room.’