‘Your client will remain here in custody until checks have been carried out,’ James made clear. ‘We’ll be interviewing his wife and obtaining a warrant to search his home. I believe that to be a reasonable step to take in the circumstances.’

‘Well, I don’t,’ Foreman interjected. ‘It’s fucking outrageous. I’ve told you the truth.’

‘Then you shouldn’t have a problem with us talking to Mrs Foreman and confirming your account of things.’

‘But I do have a problem with it.’

‘That’s just too bad, Mr Foreman. We’re investigating the deaths of an entire family, and contrary to what you believe, we have not determined exactly what happened at Oaktree Farm and are therefore pursuing all possibilities.’

‘So, how long will my client be expected to remain here?’ Haig asked.

‘As long as it takes us to do what has to be done,’ James said. ‘You know how it works, Mr Haig, and you know that we can hold a suspect for a significant period before we have to charge or release them. Your client made an overt threat against Mr Bateman shortly before he and his family were killed. That’s reason enough to arrest him on suspicion of an offence.’

The lawyer then insisted on having a private chat with his client so James paused the recording and he and Stevens left the interview room for about five minutes. When they returned, Foreman’s face looked as though the blood had been sucked out of it. The arrogance was gone and his eyes were dull with shock.

‘My client accepts that he needs to remain here for the time being, given the circumstances,’ Haig said. ‘But he wants me to be present when you interview his wife. And he would like you to do it in their home so that she doesn’t have to be brought here.’

‘That won’t be a problem,’ James said. ‘And I hope he appreciates that we can’t allow him to contact his wife beforehand.’

The lawyer nodded. ‘He does.’

‘Good. But before we get things moving there are just a couple more questions I’d like to ask.’ James referred to his notes before continuing. ‘Can you tell me how long you’ve known Robert Bateman, Mr Foreman?’

Foreman sat up straight and pushed his shoulders back.

‘We met twelve years ago when we both joined the same pheasant shooting club,’ he said. ‘I lived here in Kendal back then and the pair of us got on well and we socialised quite a bit. We also went on a lot of shoots together.’

‘And how well did you get to know his wife and daughter?’

‘Not at all well. I only met them a few times.’

‘What about Neil Savage, his daughter’s boyfriend?’

‘You mean the bloke you’re looking for?’

‘That’s right.’

‘I’d never heard of him until his picture came up on the telly.’