‘This might look like just another idyllic Cotswold cottage,’ she is saying, into a microphone, in a sepulchral tone. ‘But looks are deceiving. Two bodies have been found here at Skelton Place.’ She turns to indicate the cottage and Lorna freezes, not sure whether to keep walking or stay still. The journalist’s face lights up when she sees her. ‘And here is one of the owners now.’ She moves towards Lorna. ‘It must have been a shock to discover the bodies,’ she says, thrusting the microphone into Lorna’s face.

Lorna bristles. ‘This isn’t my house.’

‘Oh.’ The reporter looks thrown and then professionalism kicks in. ‘I gather you’re not Saffron Cutler?’

‘No, I’m not.’

‘I understand this cottage used to belong to Saffron’s grandmother. Is that correct?’

‘No comment,’ says Lorna. ‘Now, if you’ll excuse me –’

‘Cut!’ shouts the cameraman. He’s standing in the road and an irate driver beeps for him to move. He strides to the pavement but doesn’t apologize or acknowledge the driver.

The reporter looks daggers at him before fastening her gaze back on Lorna. ‘It would be great if we could interview you for our news segment. Heleana Phillips, pleased to meet you.’ She extends a hand but Lorna doesn’t take it.

‘There’s no story here,’ snaps Lorna. ‘We know nothing about the bodies. It happened years before my daughter lived here.’

Heleana pushes a lock of her sleek hair behind her ear. ‘Well,’ she says, in a soothing voice that Lorna suspects is put on to cajole, ‘I think this is a very interesting story. It’s not every day that two bodies are discovered, now, is it? Are you sure there aren’t any more?’

‘Quite sure,’ says Lorna, gently pulling Snowy to his feet and moving away. She notices a few of the elderly ladies who live across the road have clustered together on the pavement and are watching the scene with disapproving expressions, arms folded across their chests. Lorna understands that this Heleana and the other reporters are just doing their job – she’s used to it, after all, once living with Euan – but she wishes they’d bugger off. Particularly for Saffy’s sake: she notices how her daughter hides away when they’re outside, like a prisoner in her own home.