Joel didn’t like flashing his warrant card at random neighbours, it could only fuel gossip, but the man’s tone carried a warning that he wouldn’t be giving out any information cheaply. ‘I’m a police officer. She might be able to help me with my enquiries is all.’

‘Police? I thought you lot had given up. If she’s not in she’ll be at the hospital.’

‘Hospital?’

‘With her daughter. Still in intensive care. She usually goes later on a Sunday after the boy plays football. You find him yet?’

‘Find him?’

‘The bastard that put her there. I wouldn’t bother speaking to the family if you don’t have good news, I think they’re a bit upset with you lot.’

‘I’ll bear that in mind. Do you happen to have an up-to-date phone number for her? The number I have doesn’t seem to connect.’

‘I did say intensive care, didn’t I?’ The tone was laden with sarcasm now. ‘She’ll have it switched off, genius.’

‘Thanks for your help.’

‘I look forward to being able to say the same to you, officer. The whole community needs justice for those girls.’

‘Noted.’ Joel was moving away now, since continuing the conversation was only going to make it clear that he had no idea what this man was talking about. He felt his phone vibrating in his pocket, providing the ideal excuse to ignore the neighbour, who was calling something after him. His display showed DS ROSE. Joel had left a message on her phone with the briefest of updates. He had finished by telling her not to worry about coming in, that he could update her tomorrow.

‘Hey.’

‘Why didn’t you call?’ DS Rose was instantly on the offensive.

‘I did. I assume this is a response to that.’

‘Before. Before you went out to a murder scene. Why didn’t you call?’

‘I didn’t know it was a murder scene. It still might not be. I didn’t know what I had and I didn’t see the point of ruining your Sunday as well as mine.’

‘You should have called.’

Joel took a moment to make sure his response wasn’t a barked reminder of the rank structure. He didn’t let anyone talk to him the way she was. But over the phone with a lurking civilian wasn’t the way to get that point across.

By the time he spoke again he was sealed back in his car.

‘There wasn’t much you could have done any—’

‘You have a lead on who killed Hannah. You should have called me.’

‘I may have, we don’t know that for sure. There’s a possible link but I need to get onto the system and—’