‘DC Patterson, where are we at with the next of kin?’ James asked.

‘Robert Bateman’s brother is travelling over from Ireland tomorrow. I’ve arranged for him to come here first thing so that we can talk to him about his brother and explain what’s going on with the investigation,’ Patterson said.

‘I’d like to be in on that conversation so let me know when he arrives,’ James told him.

‘Any update on Charlotte’s former boyfriend, William Nash?’ he asked the room at large.

‘We’re still waiting to be granted a warrant to search his home in Kirkby Abbey,’ one of the team supplied. ‘Intel and background checks on the man have failed to come up with anything that suggests he’s anything other than an upstanding local businessman and member of the community though.’

‘Thanks. Did you want to add anything, sir?’

‘Yes, another press conference had been scheduled for tomorrow at eleven. You don’t need me to tell you that the level of interest in this story continues to rise,’ DCI Tanner said. ‘And as per usual it’s proving difficult to manage the release of information. I’ve just heard that the press has already been tipped off about the discovery of the skeleton and I’m having to pull together a statement. I don’t know if any member of this team put it out there but I want to remind everyone that only myself and DI Walker are authorised to decide what does and doesn’t get released.’

As soon as James wound up the meeting, he received a call on his phone from Gordon Carver at the Cumbria Gazette.

‘Word is you’ve found the remains of the Roth baby, Inspector,’ Carver said. ‘Is it true?’

‘We’ve found a small skeleton, but we can’t be sure it belonged to Megan. Forensic tests will need to be carried out in the lab.’

‘But I understand the discovery was made in the cellar at Oaktree Farm, right where her parents were found dead. So surely it must be her.’

‘You’ll be told more at the press conference tomorrow,’ James said.

‘Can I quote you?’

‘I don’t see why not.’

Before leaving the office James wrote up his report. He always made a point of keeping on top of the paperwork because he didn’t like it to build up. Once it was complete, he emailed it to the rest of the team, CC-ing DCI Tanner.

On the way home he reflected on another day that had been full of surprises and he wondered what tomorrow would bring.

Janet Dyer had gone by the time he reached home and he found Annie watching television. He poured himself a glass of wine while she heated up some of the casserole she’d made.