‘And what did you do when it happened last time? Did you block them or change your number or anything?’

‘Both. The number’s withheld but your lot went to the phone company to get it. They told me it was a burner. I don’t really know what that means, but that was when you stopped looking.’

‘And it was withheld today, too?’

‘Yep. Another burner, no doubt, and on my new number.’

‘Do many people have that?’

‘I mean, I don’t broadcast it, but I’ll give it out to family and friends. You do, don’t you? I don’t know what they do with it after. I wouldn’t say I was paranoid about giving it out.’

‘And that was all he said? “One down”?’

‘I hung up when I recognised the same voice. I didn’t want to give him any satisfaction. We had a lot of other stuff on social media when Danny was in the paper for his drink-driving thing. I thought this might even be the same person, some sicko trying to get a reaction. But I thought about that call, about what he said. How could he know about Danny unless he was involved somehow?’

‘We haven’t released any details but these things can have a way of getting out there. We just came from the hotel he’s been staying in, so it will no doubt soon be public knowledge that he has passed away. The police will release an official statement to the press but we don’t always do that straightaway. But Danny’s a bit of a local celeb, I guess it’s newsworthy. It only takes one person to stick it up on their social media and it’s everywhere.’

‘That was after this call though, surely?’

‘Our hotel visit was but it’s an example of how it can happen.’

‘I did tell a group of women. I mentioned this support group when I spoke to you earlier, the one DC Ribbons came to. I didn’t know where else to go. It’s like a coffee morning now …’

Joel detected a little anger. ‘And you think one of them might have leaked it?’

‘A room full of bitchy gossips! The more I think about it, the more I think I might have caused this. I should have just stayed at home. The call was five minutes after I left, just shows how desperate they are with the gossip.’

‘How long were you there?’

‘An hour, just over. Some were on their phones at times but these days it’s what people do. I asked them to keep it to themselves but someone could have been posting it up while they were looking me in the face for all I know.’

‘Did anyone stand out to you as asking questions? Someone who might have wanted more detail than seemed normal?’