‘We have not yet found evidence of clothing in the basement. There was a dressing gown near the door. We have to tell you that while we have taken in a man for questioning, you remain a suspect in this case and we are going through your interviews on file. If you want to say anything else, now is the time. We will set up another interview with you at a later date. We’re currently running tests. And we have this ring now as potential evidence.’ They put a silver Claddagh ring on the table in a clear plastic wallet. ‘It was handed in by your daughter today. But she says she found it earlier and didn’t tell anyone. Can you tell us, Niall, if this belongs to your late wife, Christine?’

‘Yes,’ says Niall. ‘My daughter. Why didn’t she tell me?’

‘Are you sure?’

Niall’s muscles are contracting. ‘And any other DNA?’ he says flatly. ‘Any other DNA. You found that? Someone else?’

‘We’ve found separate DNA evidence, yes, but it is inconclusive. At this moment in time. We’d like to take a fresh sample of your DNA.’

He holds his emotions on a tight leash. ‘You don’t still have me on file?’

‘I’m sure we have. It’s just to make sure everything’s as up to date as it can be. We offer our sincere condolences, Mr Mackay, but we hope that you can find solace in this information, however small.’

She had not gone far. She had not deserted him.

‘We’ll keep you updated with more details as soon as we have confirmation. The press are already getting wind of this, as we say, because of social media, and you may see them about – but we would ask you not to speak to them at this stage. We’ll be preparing an official statement and will keep you updated. We wanted to tell you as soon as we could.’

He coughs like a wretch. ‘Just so … Excuse me, this is a lot to take in. The annexe?’

‘We cannot say much about the annexe we described as we want to interview you about it later. But we have reason to suspect … that she had been held there. Against her will.’

Niall stays motionless, the words sloshing through his head like blood. ‘I don’t know anything about it, I can tell you that now.’

‘We appreciate you may need a moment. We hope you can understand that we need to see … if there’s some kind of link between Ann-Marie’s disappearance’ – the policeman raises his eyebrows – ‘and Christine’s. Have you any idea?’

‘No, as I said before, I don’t, officer.’

‘Then we would like you to describe the nature of your relationship with your wife.’

‘We loved each other,’ he says. ‘I loved her, so much.’ His eyes are warm and wet. ‘I want you to know that.’