‘I can’t see the point in coming to Kendal this morning,’ James said. ‘I suggest you front a meeting to update everyone. If I can participate via video link I will. If not, you can tell them that as far as we know there hasn’t been another murder. But put the team on standby in case it turns out there has been and we just don’t know it yet.’

He told Stevens about Lorna Manning’s written confession and said he would arrange for one of the patrols to take it to Kendal.

‘Get someone to liaise with Hampshire police on this,’ he added. ‘They need to run a check on the parents of the girl she killed in the hit-and-run. They’re going to be very upset but I want to know if they can account for their movements on Sunday night. And let me know as soon as you’ve looked into Daniel Curtis’s story of where he was and what he did on Saturday night.’

‘Do you want me to come to Kirkby Abbey?’ Stevens asked.

‘Let’s talk about that in a couple of hours,’ James said. ‘If no more bodies appear then I think you’ll be more useful staying in the office. But I do want a fresh batch of uniforms here.’

‘That’s in hand, guv. DC Abbott left here a while ago with half a dozen uniforms.’

‘Good. I intend to talk to Janet Dyer and Annie’s Uncle Bill this morning. At best, they’re low-level suspects,’ he said. ‘What we desperately need are some new leads. That’s why I’m hoping forensics might offer up something concrete today.’

‘I wouldn’t count on it, guv. Our perp seems to have mastered the art of killing without leaving behind a single piece of evidence.’

James then rang Tanner and repeated what he’d told Stevens. The DCI said he had agreed to stage another press conference later in the day.

‘If you get even a sniff of something then let me know,’ Tanner said. ‘The pressure from both the powers-that-be and the media is fucking unbearable. If there’s been another killing then I hate to think what the reaction will be.’

After ending the call, James checked online for stories about the murders and found there were scores of them. It was splashed across the front pages of several national newspapers.

Second brutal murder in tiny Cumbrian village

The Christmas Killer claims another victim

Village in shock following two murders

Back in the kitchen, James poured himself another coffee and put some bread in the toaster. When Annie joined him, he said he’d be heading out as soon as he’d eaten. He also told her that it appeared Bill had remained in his room at The King’s Head all night.

‘I have to point out that the pub wasn’t under surveillance continuously and we’ve had no word of another body being found.’

‘Will you let me know when you’ve spoken to him?’ Annie said. ‘I want to meet up with him myself today.’