Daryl lifted his hands as far from the note as he could. ‘No need for that, these are on me.’

‘No, they’re not. Keep the change,’ she said and moved towards the door. Joel put his card down on the bar.

‘In case you think of anything else relevant,’ he said and followed DS Rose out.

‘That’s quite a tip!’ Darryl called out after them.

‘It is,’ DS Rose replied without looking back. ‘So either you’re worth every penny or I can’t wait to get out of here.’

Chapter 43

Farthingloe café was a converted barn at the end of a loose track on the outskirts of Dover. Joel parked the car next to a vintage tractor that might have been placed there in keeping with the atmosphere or had simply been left to rust where it had collapsed on its chassis.

Sharon Evans was already there. Inside was open plan with just a couple of tables occupied. Sharon was tucked in a corner, almost directly under the angry glow of a bar heater that was angled out from the wall. Joel could feel the heat from it as he took a seat opposite her at the table. DS Rose took the seat next to him.

‘Mrs Evans, thanks for coming to meet us.’

‘Not like I have anywhere else to be. Don’t know what to do with myself, to be honest.’

‘I can imagine.’

‘I was rude. When you came to the hospital.’

Joel waved her away. ‘We’re certainly not judging you for that, if you’re worried.’

‘I’m not. But I’m not like that. I remember when it took a lot to wind me up. I barely remember that person now.’

‘You’ve had a lot thrown at you in a short space of time. For the record I think you’re handling it all as well as anyone could. Tell us about this phone call. Maybe we can take something off your plate.’

‘I doubt it. I’ve had calls like this before. You couldn’t do anything then.’

‘What was said exactly?’

‘This time, some man called. He said, “One down.” He must have been talking about Danny. I had similar calls six weeks or so ago, when there was stuff in the papers about us. Only the local rag. They were covering the story about Callie and the other girls with the indecent images. The law says they can’t use the girls’ names but they’re perfectly fine to use Danny’s name as part of it. It was obvious our Callie was involved. They didn’t even try and make contact with us either to check their so-called facts.’

‘I guess they thought you would tell them where to go.’

‘I would have liked the opportunity.’

‘And the voice, it was the same?’

‘Yes, I’m certain of that.’

‘Who got the calls?’

‘Just me. Only ever me.’