The large divan was covered with a floral bedspread. Blush-pink curtains were open at the window; a deep-pile beige rug sat atop a rose-coloured carpet. A dressing table was covered with various perfume bottles, make-up and ladies’ accessories. Beside that stood an old trouser press, a pair of grey slacks draped over its wooden top.

Two outfits had been laid out on the bed. A billowy teal dress, beside a set of off-white older woman’s pants and a bra; and a gentleman’s dark suit, over a pale blue dress shirt.

‘This is messed up,’ Ray said. He walked into the en suite. ‘He has the toothbrushes laid out beside the toothpaste. It’s all ready to go. There are glasses of water on the bedside lockers. What was he at? Are you thinking what I’m thinking?’

‘What?’

‘Did he bring the women here and make them play at being Mammy and Daddy?’

‘We need to talk to Linda,’ Tom said. ‘Either he really misses his folks, or your theory is correct.’

They went downstairs and checked with Ian Kelly to establish what was happening in the search of the rest of the property.

Nothing had been found in any of the buildings outside.

‘We’ll leave you in charge of the grounds search,’ the inspector told Ian. ‘We need to get back to HQ and have a chat with the suspect. I’ll take that chap’s jeep back up to the garden centre and collect my car.’

‘Anything upstairs?’ Ian asked.

Tom and Ray exchanged a glance.

‘Best you take a look yourself,’ Ray said. ‘Just so you know, if you find any mummified remains of an elderly man and woman about the place – that’ll be Carney’s folks.’

‘He’s refusing to talk to us.’ Michael greeted them with the bad news when they landed back in headquarters. ‘If you ask me, he doesn’t seem right in the head. Did you find anything out at the house?’

‘Not what we were expecting,’ Tom replied.

The inspector had taken pictures on his phone inside the sinister bedroom and sent them through to Linda McCarn, then rang her as they drove to explain their context.

‘Is that the behaviour of a serial killer?’ Tom asked.