She looked up at Ashworth, realizing that she might have sounded callous. He could be sentimental, especially when women and children were involved. But he nodded to show he agreed.

‘So,’ she said. ‘Morgan. I wondered if we should bring him in to the station.’

‘Have we got enough on him to do that?’

‘I’m not talking about an arrest,’ she grinned. ‘An invitation, that’s all. He’s an upstanding member of the community. I’m sure he’ll be delighted to help. He’d be less comfortable on our territory. What do you think?’ Usually that sort of question was rhetorical, but this time Vera really wanted Ashworth’s opinion.

‘I’m not sure.’

‘Come on, Joey. Spit it out! You’re allowed to disagree with me. Every now and again.’

‘He’s good at playing the game, isn’t he? They had him in for questioning after the boy died. An interview at the station won’t be anything new to him. Probably not even very scary. He’ll make sure his solicitor’s there.’

‘What do you suggest then?’ She could hear the annoyance in her own voice. It’s all very well pulling holes in my ideas. More difficult to come up with a suggestion of your own.

‘What about taking him to his office at the Willows? That’ll inconvenience him, pull him out of his home just as he’s about to have his tea. While we’re picking him up, we can have a quick scout round the flat for evidence of Connie or the girl. It’ll be a neutral space, his office, but unsettling. I know he doesn’t keep any of his records there, but we can imply we have a specific reason for wanting to see it. Send him home in a taxi, and we’ll be . . .’

‘. . . almost in Barnard Bridge, to call in to Connie’s cottage before close of play.’ Vera grinned. ‘Eh, lad, I’ve taught you a couple of things at least while you’ve been working for me.’

She decided to phone Morgan in advance to tell him they’d be collecting him. That would be more formal than just turning up on the doorstep. And phoning from her mobile from the end of his street, she’d see if he or Freya appeared suddenly with Connie and her daughter. Though that was never going to happen. Morgan might be a bastard, but he was too bright to keep them there.

He was rattled by her insistence that they go to the Willows. ‘Is that really necessary, Inspector? There’s nothing at all to see.’

‘Of course we could always get a search warrant, if you’d prefer, Mr Morgan. That might take a few hours, though, and I wouldn’t really want to drag you out in the middle of the night.’