‘People living in the area have been quick to point out that Oaktree Farm was the scene of a similar tragedy in 1997 when the bodies of the previous owners were found in the cellar. The investigation at the time concluded that Mr Roth had shot himself after killing his wife. The Roths’ daughter – three-week-old Megan Roth – disappeared on the same day. Police have long believed that she was sadly killed. We hope to bring you more on this story later today.’

Annie picked up the remote and muted the TV. She snapped her head towards James and a flash of panic passed over her face.

‘I think I’m going to be sick again,’ she said, clapping a hand over her mouth as she jumped to her feet and rushed out of the room.

James got up and put the coffee mug and plate in the dishwasher. He was about to go and see if Annie was all right when he heard the doorbell ring. It struck him as odd because they rarely had callers at this time of the morning.

Annie was in the downstairs toilet so he called out to let her know that he would answer the door. When he did, he was greeted by a squat, bullish man of about forty who was bundled into a heavy grey overcoat. He had a blunt, square face and hardly any hair, and although James didn’t know him, he was sure he’d seen him around the village.

‘Hi there,’ James said with a smile. ‘Can I help you?’

‘I’m here to help you, Detective Walker,’ the man said. ‘I live just a couple of hundred yards from here and when I got home late last night my neighbour told me I’d had a visit from the police who wanted to talk to me. And he said he suspected it was in connection with the killings at Oaktree Farm. So, I thought I’d save you the trouble of dropping in on me again later. The name’s O’Connor. Kenneth O’Connor.’

James was totally thrown and it made him slow to react.

This was the first time a suspect had ever turned up at his home, either here or in London.

It felt like a huge and uncomfortable invasion of his privacy, as well as a dangerous precedent.

‘You should have called the station in Kendal,’ James said. ‘Arrangements would have been made to interview you either there or at your home.’

O’Connor’s expression showed irritation.

‘But we’re virtually neighbours, and when I heard that you were in charge of the case, I decided to do you a favour and pop round. Is that a problem?’

‘Well it’s unconventional, Mr O’Connor,’ James said. ‘I prefer to conduct interviews at the station and when I have a colleague with me, as per protocol.’