Barrett sat back and watched as a vast number of hands sprung up into the air. ‘Yes.’ He pointed to a man who sat in the front row.

‘Is it true that both victims were discovered hanging?’

Whispers travelled around the room.

‘I am not prepared to comment on that at this time.’ Barrett turned his body slightly and pointed to a woman standing at the back of the room.

‘Is there a link between the victims?’

‘At this stage we are exploring all possible avenues.’

‘Do you have any suspects?’ another reporter called out from somewhere in the audience.

‘Currently, we do have someone of interest who we believe will be able to assist in our enquiries.’

‘Who?’ shouted someone else.

‘I am not prepared to comment at this time.’

‘Are the police considering the idea that a serial killer may be responsible?’

‘There are similarities in the method in which both victims were killed.’ Barrett had to be very careful how he worded himself. ‘We are keen to trace a man recorded on CCTV who was in the area near the bookshop in the early hours of Friday the thirteenth. The man was spotted walking towards Midsummer Common wearing a dark hooded jacket. If anyone has information about this person, we request you come forward so that we can eliminate this male from our enquiries.’

Another question. ‘I understand that a warrant has been issued for the arrest of Andrew Wade, the first victim’s son. Can you tell us if he’s a suspect in the case?’

‘I can confirm that Andrew Wade is a person of interest at this time and we are keen to talk to him further.’

Mutters travelled around the room in ripples as Barrett got up and excused himself, letting out a deep sigh of relief once he’d shut the door behind him, leaving Elly Hale in there to fight off the wolves, hungry for more information.

Chapter 13

10.30am Tuesday 17th December

Jane Campbell had been thinking about the development in the case ever since she’d watched the ten o’clock news the previous evening. It scared her to think that two people had now been targeted.

Wanting to do something positive, she decided that it was now a suitable time for all the bookshop employees to come together and lay flowers at the door of Ashton’s. She knew the general public had been doing so because she’d seen images of the memorial behind reporters who had attended the scene.

She understood as well as anyone that it was difficult for Ashton’s employees to return to the shop knowing what had taken place there, but she felt it was the right thing to do. Jane was under no illusion that it would make any difference to Dennis, but she wanted them all to show solidarity with his family.