Exactly what Grant had thought too. Mary looked as despondent as he felt at the prospect of yet another visit from plod. The two officers opened the front gate and walked up the gravel driveway. Grant’s focus moved from the police and back over to Ed Francis’s house. As if on cue – well, Francis wouldn’t miss this, would he? – the outline of a figure appeared at one of Francis’s downstairs windows, a second before the doorbell rang.

Grant looked at his watch. He really didn’t need this. He threw on some suit trousers and pulled a shirt from a hanger in the wardrobe.

‘I’ll be down in a minute,’ Mary said, searching for something to wear.

Grant nodded and walked out of the room. He knocked on Annie’s door as he went across the landing.

‘I’m leaving in five minutes if you need a lift,’ he called out to no response.

He did up the buttons of his shirt as he headed down the stairs, then quickly tucked the shirt in before unlocking and opening the front door.

‘Mr Grant?’ the lady said.

‘Yes.’

‘I’m DI Fletcher; this is DC Constable.’

‘Detective Constable Constable?’ Grant said, not sure he’d heard that right, and trying his best to hold back any childish reaction.

‘Yes,’ the young man said, evidently aware of the funny side, but not in the least amused by it.

‘Is it ok if we come in?’ Fletcher said.

‘What’s this about?’

‘It’s about your son, Ethan.’

Grant stepped to the side and ushered Fletcher and Constable through. Mary, now dressed, was coming down the stairs by the time the officers were both inside, the door shut behind them.

‘What on earth now?’ Mary said. ‘This is the third time this week you lot have been here. And different officers every time. Do you not speak to each other?’

‘Sorry. Mrs Grant, is it?’

‘Yes, it is.’ Mary said. Her tone was sharp, and Grant was a little surprised by that. She came up to his side. ‘So?’

Grant checked his watch again. He thought about offering the police a seat, but didn’t. He’d rather they just got on with the reason they were there and then left.

‘Mr and Mrs Grant, we shouldn’t need to take much of your time,’ Fletcher said, reading the signs. ‘But we need to ask you about Ethan.’

‘Your colleagues did that yesterday.’

‘I’m afraid something’s happened since then.’

Mary rolled her eyes but Grant was feeling nervous all of a sudden.

‘Well go on then,’ Mary said. ‘Ask away.’

‘Have you been in contact with your son in the past twenty-four hours?’

‘No, why?’

‘There was an incident yesterday,’ Fletcher said.

Grant felt himself tense up and he gave Mary a look. She obviously wasn’t feeling it.