Nick barely heard. Inside, he was rebuking himself for a horrible thought: if Eastman had instead chosen to send his goons to kill the woman who might expose their affair, none of this would have happened.

Josie was first out of Middleton’s Range Rover, running for the door with Anna close behind, as if unwilling to let her get more than a few feet out of reach, even here. Middleton helped Jane into the house, but Nick took a moment to walk to the end of the driveway and peer down the road. DCI Lucy Miller’s car had parked about fifty metres away. He noted that it had only a driver, no passenger. And it was Bennet who got out. He started approaching.

Nobody on the street seemed to care, which was a world away from what he’d heard was happening at his own home. The plan was to hide out here at Anna’s father’s house until the gawkers and reporters had cleared away, but he had a rising feeling that they would never be returning to that house, at least as a complete family.

‘Where’s your boss? I think Anna would prefer her to take her in. No offence.’

‘I’ll be taking it from here. DCI Miller has tasks to do.’

‘That’s it?’ Nick said. ‘She’s done her job and so long? Without even a goodbye? Just another day at the office for you guys, right?’

‘No, Nick, no. Far from it. Personal cases, like this one, they’re the hardest. We’re not supposed to get emotionally attached. You got to her. All three of you got to her. You amputate that limb before the infection spreads, so to speak. I’ll deal with it from here.’

Nick thought he understood. ‘Because you’ve got that heart of ice, right?’

Bennet returned Nick’s grin. ‘You guys have an hour. I’ll wait out here.’

Nick stuck out his hand. ‘This is my way of apologising for being an arse while you were trying to do your job. Thank you, Detective Sergeant Bennet. Maybe you’ll rise to inspector for this.’

Bennet shook the hand. ‘I’m due to go downhill, not up. Long story I won’t bore you with. Get back to your family, Nick Carter.’

Nick turned to go, still thinking about the hour Bennet had agreed to give them. Anna had been promised police bail, which would mean freedom later today, but what if that went wrong? Their family might be whole for only an hour, and then exploded for ever.