It opened a few moments later. Best looked at her. He was dressed in a pair of old jeans with grass stains on the knees and a loose-fitting sweater. He folded his arms.

‘Hello,’ he said. ‘You again. How can I help you this time?’

‘I have some questions.’

‘I’ve given you all the information I have.’ Best shook his head. ‘What’s your name again? I’ve a mind to report you. This is tantamount to police harass—’

Wynne glanced around then shoved him hard in the chest. He stumbled backwards and she stepped into the hall. She shut the front door, her heart beating hard in her chest, and swung her right foot hard into his shin. There was a loud crack. Best bent over, his hand clutching at his damaged leg.

‘You shut the fuck up,’ she said. ‘And listen to me.’

Best looked up at her, his eyes wary.

‘What were you doing last night? With Maggie Cooper’s brother?’

‘Nothing.’ He stood up, wincing in pain. ‘It was a simple coincidence.’ He gestured at the front of the house. ‘The park is there. I was walking home and I saw him come out. I didn’t know he was related to the Coopers.’

Wynne stared at him. ‘I don’t believe you,’ she said. ‘I don’t believe a word you say. You’re a lying piece of shit.’

He shrugged. ‘He was in the park getting drunk. How could I have had anything to do with that? He was drunk on the street outside my house and I was concerned. That’s all there is to it, Detective Inspector Wynne.’

It was true: James had confirmed it. But still. Why was he watching? And would he have done the same for another teenager?

‘So you took him home?’

‘I did. Like I said, I was concerned.’

‘Do you make a habit of that? Driving drunk young boys home?’

‘No, I don’t. This was the first time it has happened.’

‘And by coincidence it was the brother of Maggie Cooper.’

‘Yes.’

‘Whose mother you taught.’

‘Yes. I taught a lot of the people in this town.’ He sighed. ‘I’m afraid you’re chasing shadows. I saw a young man in need of help. That’s all. I look out for my fellow citizens.’

‘Especially the young girls.’

‘This again.’ He ran his hand over his face and shook his head. ‘I told you last time, it’s not true. My wife and I had a very messy break-up and she invented the whole thing to discredit me. It was scurrilous nonsense. And it cost me a lot of money in the divorce. She threatened to spread her lies to more people if I didn’t give her whatever she wanted.’

‘But you paid,’ Wynne said. ‘Didn’t you? You settled with her. Why would you, if it wasn’t true?’