Nick had, of course, had the same black thought: how better to exact retribution than to make Anna suffer the loss of a child – an eye for an eye – before killing her? But Miller and Bennet had quickly shut down that theory and he now tried to calm Middleton and Jane with the detectives’ reasoning:

‘I don’t think so. If it was revenge, they could have got to Anna anytime. They could have killed her when they broke into the house. They could have run her down in the road, just like she…’ He stopped himself before he could say it. ‘No, they told Anna where to meet them. They want her to do something for them. They must have told her what in their secret message. And that’s why I need your help.’

Middleton turned to look at him for the first time since parking up. ‘What help? Is this why you wanted this damn silly secret meet? You don’t want the police to know because you think you can make everything all right. You think you can save everybody. But keeping the police out of this puts my daughter and granddaughter in danger, you fool. What can you do?’

That final sentence had been almost spat out in contempt. Nick paused a second to let rising anger subside. ‘Look, I know I’m not the ideal man for Anna in your eyes. I’m just some grunt with no desire to rule the world. I’m not obsessed with money and power and I don’t want people to bow at my feet. You think Anna can’t cope without you because she failed in London, and that I’m not the right person to look after her, even though we’ve been fine for years. If only she’d married a judge or famous novelist, eh? I don’t care what you think. All that matters to me—’

‘And what about what matters to me? I don’t want you making things worse by—’

Jane had been silent for a time, but no longer. ‘Stop this, you two,’ she yelled. ‘It ends now between you. I heard what Nick said to you back at the house and he’s right, Father. You cut her off thinking she’d regret her decision to settle down. It’s not going to happen. Josie is the best thing that ever happened to her, to any of us. And even if she left Nick, she’s not going to suddenly decide to start a career. Stop blaming Nick because Anna didn’t become the daughter you wanted. And you, Nick, stop blaming Father for finding it hard to accept that Anna chose a different path. Both of you! Fighting when Josie and Anna are out there somewhere and in danger. I’m sick of it!’