‘We’ve also been in contact with our colleagues in Hampshire. They’ve spoken to the parents of the young woman who Lorna Manning knocked down and killed. They were shown a copy of her confession and were naturally shocked and livid. They insist they knew nothing about it and had never heard of the woman. The couple also have a cast-iron alibi for Sunday night.’

James then passed on feedback from the officers who were talking again to Lorna’s neighbours in Willow Road – so far they’d drawn a blank and no one had given them any new information – and mentioned that Lorna’s son had checked into a room at one of the village pubs, having been in to the command centre to make a statement about the last conversation he had with his mother.

‘As a result of what he told us I will be speaking to Giles Keegan again.’ James pointed to Inspector Boyd and added, ‘Let me know once we’ve been granted access to his phone records and those of Keith Patel, who remains a person of interest.’

The briefing then turned into a brainstorming session that lasted a further hour. James noted down all the points and suggestions, and these helped him to decide what to do the following day. One of the tasks would be to draw up a list of all the parents with children at the school. They would check to see if any of them had fallen out with the headmistress or had links with Charlie Jenkins.

Following the briefing, the three detectives who had come to Kirkby Abbey were told to return in the morning, and to allow themselves plenty of time to get here in case the weather made travelling difficult.

DC Abbott surprised James by saying she had come prepared and had made a reservation at one of the three bed and breakfast establishments in the village.

‘I cleared it first with DS Stevens,’ she said. ‘I live in Staveley and I don’t want to risk being stuck there if it turns really bad.’

‘Good thinking,’ James said. He then turned to Inspector Boyd and asked how many uniforms would be on duty in the village overnight.

‘Five late shifters are due to arrive in the next hour, replacing those who’ve been here all day,’ the inspector answered. ‘We’ll also have two patrol cars.’

It was 5 p.m. by the time they were through and it coincided with the start of the latest press conference being held in Penrith.

DCI Tanner was fronting it once again and was given a pretty hard time by the hacks. He pointed out that they were only three days into the investigation and everything possible was being done to find the murderer.

‘A team of officers will once again be located in Kirkby Abbey throughout the night,’ he said. ‘They are there to offer protection to the villagers and to ensure that the enquiries continue twenty-four-seven.’

BBC News then cut to their reporter in the village, who said that most residents were staying in their homes because they were too afraid to venture out. He did a piece to camera in front of the village hall.