‘Mr Westbrook,’ Wynne said. ‘Your brother-in-law mentioned that Annabelle and your sister had a difficult start to their relationship. He indicated it was in part because of your ex-girlfriend.’

Matt put his hands on his knees. ‘It was hardly anything,’ he said. ‘And it was a long time ago.’

‘Would you mind giving us the details?’ Wynne said.

‘Lindsey – she was my girlfriend during the last year of high school – and Tessa became friends after we broke up. When I met Annabelle it was awkward, because Tessa was loyal to her friend. That was all it was. Loyalty.’

‘And other than that, you would say they have a close relationship?’

He looked at DI Wynne. It was true that Tessa and Annabelle had not clicked when they met. Initially he had put it down to Tessa’s friendship with Lindsey, but, although it had got better, they had never become best – or anything like best – friends.

‘It’s fine,’ he said. ‘They do OK.’

‘But they’re not close?’ Dudek said.

‘They’re family. They like each other.’

‘Do they socialize outside of family gatherings?’ Wynne said.

‘Not that much,’ Matt said. ‘But that’s a long way from thinking Tessa would have anything to do with this.’

‘We’re not suggesting that,’ Wynne said. ‘Just trying to establish the facts. Mr Anderson also mentioned that your ex-girlfriend showed up at your son’s christening and made threats?’

‘Not really,’ Matt said. ‘I mean, yes, she showed up at the pub after we had Norman christened, but she was just drunk.’

‘Did she threaten you?’ Dudek said.

‘You could say that,’ Matt said. ‘She said something like “You’ll get what’s coming”, but it was the drink talking, that’s all.’

‘How long after the break-up was this?’ Wynne said.

‘I don’t know. Nine, maybe ten years?’ Matt said.

‘That’s a long time to hold a grudge,’ Wynne said.

The door opened and Mike came in. He was holding his phone.

‘It’s Tessa,’ he said. He passed it to Wynne. ‘She’s free now.’

Wynne

1

‘Ms Westbrook,’ Wynne said. ‘Thank you for coming. How was the accident on the M6? Was it bad?’

‘No,’ Tessa said. ‘It was only one injury. I didn’t have to go into the hospital after all.’

‘That’s not what Mr Anderson told us.’

‘I know. I was thinking it would be worse when I spoke to him.’

‘So where were you when he called?’

‘I went for a run. To clear my mind.’

DI Wynne nodded. ‘I see. We’ll want to get your version of events in detail. But for now we’d like to focus on Lindsey Daley.’

‘What about her?’

‘It seems she had something against your brother and his wife?’

‘A long time ago, yes.’

‘Not now?’ Wynne asked.

‘No.’

‘What was the nature of her complaint against them?’ Wynne said.