‘I need to tell you something about Daniel,’ she said. ‘He approached me in the street today while I was walking to the garage.’

James felt his hackles rise. ‘I told the bastard to stay away from you.’

‘Well, he didn’t. He denied that he had been following me, but I’m convinced he was lying.’

‘So, what did he say?’

‘He asked me if it was true that I’d aborted his baby. I said it wasn’t and told him to fuck off.’

‘And did he?’

Annie nodded. ‘Not straight away. He wanted to talk but I wouldn’t be drawn.’

James was furious. ‘I’ll go and see him. I should have known he wouldn’t let it rest until he’d spoken to you.’

‘I’d rather you didn’t, love. Leave it now. Please. Hopefully he’ll shut up about it.’

James wasn’t happy but he knew she was probably right.

‘Okay, but are you sure he didn’t follow you after that encounter?’

‘I’m positive. But I did actually see him again. He was in the village square having what looked like a stand-up row with Giles Keegan.’

‘But I told Keegan to steer clear of Daniel. That obviously fell on deaf ears.’

‘Do you have any idea what it would have been about?’

James nodded. ‘Keegan thinks Daniel could have been stalking Lorna, and that he might even have killed her.’

‘But why would he think that?’

‘As you know, Daniel was hanging around outside the school on Friday evening. When Giles saw him there, he confronted him because he suspected he was waiting to eye up the kids as they came out. But while he was being questioned by me about Lorna it suddenly occurred to him that Daniel might have been waiting there for her to appear. I didn’t tell him that Daniel told me he was actually waiting to see you.’

Annie’s lips started to form a question just as the doorbell rang.

‘That’ll be your uncle,’ James said. ‘We’ll talk again later.’

Eighteen months had passed since James last saw Bill Cardwell. In that time the man had aged considerably. His face was heavily lined, the eyes dull and ringed with fatigue.

‘Hi there, Bill,’ he said, shaking his hand.

Bill tipped his head forward. ‘Hello, James. It’s been too long, mate, and that’s all down to me. I got myself in a right state after Sis’s funeral and I couldn’t drag myself out of it. I hope you don’t bear a grudge.’

‘Of course not.’

‘Good. And meanwhile I’m glad to see you’re looking so well.’

‘You look good too, Bill.’

Bill laughed. ‘It’s kind of you to say so, James, but I know it’s not true. I look like shit and that’s exactly how I feel. But I’m sure Annie’s stew will cheer me up.’

The stew was, as usual, cooked to perfection, and Annie’s uncle seemed to appreciate it as much as James did.

‘That was delicious, Annie,’ Bill said. ‘You take after your mum when it comes to cooking. She made stews to die for.’