‘No, indeed, we’re all rather feeling our way along,’ she said. ‘The crucial thing here is that Mrs Tilling is quite within her rights to refuse medical treatment, even though it would undoubtedly be good for her. She passed her capability assessments quite easily. She has Attendance Allowance and some other benefits, but they are not sufficient to cover the cost of two carers. It is only because she is able to continue her self-employed work from bed that she can afford the care she needs. I’m afraid she has constructed rather an elaborate legal construct that makes it hard to prise her from her home.’

‘Well, Mrs Cathcart, I’m going to have to arrest her as we now have most of the evidence we need.’

She gave him a wintry smile. ‘That is an arrest I really have to see.’

‘I don’t even know how I’m going to do it.’

Chapter Thirty-four

Gary Tilling sat in the dock at Staines Magistrates Court looking bewildered. He was the only representative of the Tilling family present for this first stage in the legal process. Leticia Mountjoy, watching from the public seating area, saw him look first to his solicitor, a young woman whose eyes were fixed on the paperwork in front of her, and then roam the room looking for some kind of ally, someone to explain what was happening. His eyes found hers, and Leticia risked a brief smile. He blinked and looked away.

The grizzled stipendiary, who had spent several minutes in close conversation with court officials, looked over his half-moon spectacles at the defendant. ‘I think you are aware, Mr Tilling, that these committal proceedings are not to examine your guilt or innocence. They are merely to ascertain that all the instruments of law and the required evidence are present for the case to be referred to the Crown Court, which in terms of the severity of the crimes alleged is its right and proper venue. It is at this stage that you are required to confirm your name and address.’

After being prompted a second time Tilling did so.

‘Now where is Ms Verity Winter?’ the magistrate asked, looking at the ranks of legal officials at the modern desks in front of him. Two approached him, and there was another whispered huddle around the magistrate’s desk.

‘Mr Tilling,’ the magistrate asked. ‘Are you aware of the whereabouts of your sister?’

‘No, sir,’ he replied.

‘The police seem to think that she took a flight from Heathrow to Buenos Aires several days ago. If you have been in contact with her, Mr Tilling, can I ask you to request that she return immediately? An international arrest warrant has already been issued and the consequences will be much more severe if she seeks to hide from justice.’