Eighteen days later, the Batemans are staying at Robert’s mother’s house in Sunderland when Robert receives a call from a DI Giles Keegan of the Cumbria Constabulary.

The officer informs him that Simon and Amanda Roth have been found dead in the cellar at Oaktree Farm and that baby Megan has disappeared.

CHAPTER SEVEN

James was thrown off balance by what Tanner had told him. He pulled up his overcoat collar and shoved his hands into his pockets. Then he walked over to the big barn and stood in its shadow while taking stock of the situation.

It seemed inconceivable to him that two murder-suicides could have been committed in the same house, albeit twenty-four years apart. Questions whirled inside his head and he tried to ignore his growing sense of unease.

During all of his time as a copper he had never encountered a case with so many intriguing parts to it.

Tanner had told James that he was to be the senior investigating officer, but it was something he found he didn’t relish. Tanner had also suggested that James speak to retired detective Giles Keegan, who lived in Kirkby Abbey and was based at the station in Kendal until he left the force six years ago. He had been the lead detective in the investigation into the killings of the Roth couple.

James had first met Keegan during the serial killer case last year, and the ex-police officer had provided useful information about his fellow villagers that had helped the investigation.

James called him on his mobile.

‘It’s not often that I hear from you, Detective Walker,’ Keegan said when he answered. ‘Is there something you want my help with?’

‘I need to pick your brains, Giles,’ James said. ‘DCI Tanner suggested I have a word with you. But first I have some bad news to impart about some people you know.’

James told him what had happened at Oaktree Farm, holding back some of the more gory details, and he heard the man catch his breath.

‘It’s too early to know for sure what we’re dealing with, but it could be that someone tried to make it look like a murder-suicide,’ James said.

‘This is so terrible,’ Keegan responded. ‘I saw Robert only a few weeks ago in the village. He mentioned that he was selling the farm because it had become more of a struggle as of late, but that he and Mary were hoping to stay in the area – maybe even move into Kirkby Abbey.’

‘Did you know him well?’

‘Not really, but I liked him. He was always pleasant and sociable.’

‘Can you think of anyone who might have wanted to hurt him and his family?’

‘Not at all. And if someone did have a serious problem with him, I’m sure I would have heard about it since everyone around here seems to know everyone else’s business.’

‘What was Mary like?’