‘So, you did not go for a drive in your car on Christmas Eve.’

James spotted it immediately. The flicker of hesitation in his eyes. The swallowing of a lump that appeared to be the size of a golf ball.

‘I told you that I didn’t,’ he said. ‘So why are you asking me again?’

James took two photographs from the folder. They were stills from the traffic camera footage. He dropped them on the table between Foreman and his lawyer.

‘I asked you again because I thought you might see sense and tell us the truth,’ he said. ‘Those pictures are proof that you lied to us before and you’re lying to us again. These images are from traffic cameras and they show that you drove your car south along the M6 on Christmas Eve around 9 p.m. You took the slip road onto the A684, then headed east towards Oaktree Farm. As far as we know the family were still alive at that time.’

The shock was evident on both their faces. Haig leaned forward for a closer look at the photos while Foreman let out a ragged breath and shook his head.

James then plucked a third photo from the folder and placed it on top of the others.

‘And before you tell us that you weren’t behind the wheel, this is a close up of the vehicle and either that’s you driving it or you have a double.’

Foreman reacted by screwing his eyes shut and squeezing his lips together. His lawyer sat back and heaved a loud sigh.

‘We’re showing these same photographs to your wife, Mr Foreman,’ James said. ‘And I’m looking forward to hearing what she has to say about that night and what you did.’

Foreman opened his eyes then and from his expression it looked as though a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

‘Look, it’s all my fault, Inspector,’ he said. ‘I talked my wife into lying for me so she really isn’t to blame.’

‘What have you concealed from us, Mr Foreman?’ James asked.

A deep intake of breath. Then Foreman swallowed another lump before the words fell from his mouth.

‘It’s true that I did go to Oaktree Farm,’ he said. ‘But I promise you I did not kill anyone.’

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

The interview was paused briefly so that Haig could have a private conversation with his client. Foreman’s admission had clearly come as a shock to the lawyer.

When they got going again, he said, ‘For the record, I’ve advised my client to request a longer break so that I can consult him further, but he insists we continue so that he can get things off his chest.’

‘I’m glad to hear it,’ James said. ‘Now let’s start with why Mr Foreman decided to go to Oaktree Farm on Christmas Eve.’