‘The police are working across three counties to confirm any threats made this past year to the families of those on board the bus,’ Bish said, impressed at how good he had become at lying.

‘Receiving threats is part of a politician’s job description,’ Parker said.

‘We have a substantial security system in our home,’ Katherine said.

‘Then you were able to see who destroyed your garden in May?’ Bish asked.

Katherine stiffened. Parker’s stare was dismissive. ‘You think someone who cut off the heads of my wife’s flowers is responsible for the bombing?’

Bish hadn’t known that detail. ‘Well, it’s not everyday vandalism,’ he said. ‘That seems more like some kind of message. Why didn’t you report it?’

‘We didn’t want a fuss,’ Parker said firmly.

‘And we had to concentrate on Lola at the time,’ Katherine added. ‘She was being bullied at school and not coping. We let her go on this trip because she’d been miserable all year, and her favourite teacher was a chaperone on the tour.’

‘Julius McEwan?’ Bish asked.

Katherine nodded. ‘Lola was in his history class. Some teachers can find her annoying, but he understood her spirit. Up until the day of the bombing, she was having the time of her life.’ Katherine was looking at him, pained. ‘Do you think that bomb was meant for my daughter?’ she asked.

‘I honestly don’t know.’ Bish still believed that Violette could as easily have been the target. ‘But I’ll never forgive myself if I don’t cover every hunch.’

‘If someone takes issue with my views, it’s me they should come after,’ Parker said. ‘Not my family.’

‘But that’s not how these sort of people operate,’ Bish said. ‘They go for your nearest and dearest.’

‘All I’m doing is saying the things most people are expressing around their kitchen table.’

Bish again felt Katherine eyeing him. ‘What are your thoughts, Chief Inspector Ortley? You seem to have some, I can tell.’

Bish’s opinion on the subject was simple. What was said in the confines of one’s home should sometimes remain there. But he didn’t believe the Parkers would appreciate the honesty.

‘My thoughts these days are always on the kids,’ he said, retrieving his notebook. He scribbled down his email address and tore out the page, handing it to Parker. ‘Can I have the security tape from the day your garden was destroyed?’ he asked. ‘And a list of any speaking engagements you were invited to prior to the vandalism?’

‘There’s no security tape,’ Ian Parker said.

‘It got damaged,’ Katherine said.

‘If that’s all, we’ll be off now.’ Parker turned briskly to his wife. ‘I’ve booked us a table for morning tea in town.’

She looked surprised. ‘I’ve already arranged to drive up to Canterbury with Sadia for a bit of sightseeing,’ she said.

‘With who?’

‘Sadia Bagchi. Manoshi’s mother.’

Parker’s look was one of disbelief. ‘Why would she want to go to a cathedral?’

‘For the art and the history,’ Katherine said, irritation in her voice. ‘Honestly, Ian, I’m going for a drive with the woman. Not converting her to Christianity.’