By 7.30 a.m. most of the team were in and James brought them up to date. The discovery of Mary Bateman’s jewellery box was the only lead that showed any promise as they hadn’t got any further in the hunt for Neil Savage and the search of Dean Foreman’s house had proved fruitless.

James gave the go-ahead for Foreman to be released from custody but instructed two detectives to stay on his case.

‘The threatening text message he sent to Robert Bateman on Christmas Eve still troubles me,’ he said. ‘And we only have his wife’s word for it that he stayed with her at home the whole time. So, we need to keep up the pressure. Let’s talk to his friends and colleagues, and also members of the shooting club that he and Bateman belonged to.’

After the briefing, and before the interview with O’Connor, DCI Tanner asked him what the latest situation was with Andrew Sullivan.

‘He’s still on the run as far as I know, sir,’ James answered. ‘I’ll be informed as soon as there’s a development. Meanwhile, thanks for arranging for the car to come over.’

‘I’ve made provision for a crew to be outside your house for the rest of the week. And they’ll be armed. We’ll review it then or before if anything changes.’

‘That’s great, sir. But to be honest I really don’t think Sullivan would be stupid enough to come here. He’ll be too busy trying to stay out of sight.’

‘I agree with you there, James,’ Tanner said. ‘But it’s better to be safe than sorry, especially in view of what happened to Jack Hannah.’

It was a good point, James thought. Detective Inspector Hannah had led an investigation into a large drugs ring in Liverpool at the start of the year. When one of the ringleaders was convicted by a court and sent down for a long stretch Hannah received an anonymous call threatening revenge. Sadly, he didn’t take it seriously and neither did his superiors. Three weeks later he was enjoying an evening at home with his wife when someone rang the doorbell. Hannah answered it and was shot dead by a man who ran off and was never found.

His death ensured that all threats against police officers were now being taken a lot more seriously.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

It was just after eight when James and DC Abbott entered the interview room.

Kenneth O’Connor had already been introduced to the duty solicitor, Christian Lee, a regular at the station, and the pair were seated at the table.

James got a shock when he saw O’Connor. The guy looked like death warmed up. His face was gaunt and colourless, the eyes dark rimmed and bloodshot.