While they waited for Foreman and his wife to arrive at the station, there was time for James and the rest of the team to view the traffic cam footage.

The images were clear and showed his car on the M6 and A684 late on Christmas Eve. What’s more, in a magnified freeze frame the man himself could be clearly identified behind the wheel.

‘That’s much better than we could have hoped for,’ Tanner said.

James briefed the team on what would happen next. He and DC Abbott would question Foreman and DS Stevens and DC Patterson would interview the wife.

‘After we’re done, we’ll meet up to consider the state of play,’ James said. ‘But let’s not build our hopes up too much. We thought we had it in the bag with Neil Savage and Kenneth O’Connor. Dean Foreman might still be able to prove that he did not go to Oaktree Farm on Christmas Eve. If so, we’ll be right back to square one.’

James was back in the interview room just after midday and it struck him that Dean Foreman did not look so sure of himself this time around. His face was as grey as a headstone and there was a glint of sweat on his brow.

As soon as James switched on the recorder, Foreman’s lawyer demanded to know why his client had been hauled in for further questioning so soon after being released from custody.

‘You’re about to find that out, Mr Haig,’ James said. ‘I’m going to—’

‘And what about my wife?’ Foreman cut in. ‘Why has she been brought here? She’s being treated like a common criminal and it’s not right.’

‘We have reason to believe that she wasn’t altogether truthful with my colleague when he spoke to her on Thursday,’ James said.

‘Then she needs to have a lawyer with her. I don’t want you lot putting words into her mouth.’

‘Your wife is being represented by the duty solicitor, Mr Foreman. And Mr Haig here has raised no objection to that. So, can we now carry on?’

Foreman twisted his mouth, searching for words, but Haig touched his arm and cautioned him against saying any more.

James had placed a folder on the table and now he opened it and pulled out several sheets of paper.

‘As you’re aware the last time you were here in this room, the interview we conducted with you was recorded,’ he said. ‘This is the transcript and it shows that you stated clearly that you and your wife did not leave your home in Penrith on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Do you recall saying that, Mr Foreman?’

He shot his lawyer a look before fixing James with a cold, implacable stare.

‘I remember saying it because that’s what happened,’ he said, his voice glacial. ‘And whoever is telling you otherwise is a bloody liar.’