‘It would help if you cooperated with us willingly, Mr Nash, rather than us having to force you to. We’ll be in touch again tomorrow and by then I hope you’ll have calmed and will realise that making things difficult for us is not in your best interest.’

Nash said nothing as they walked past him and out the door, which he slammed shut behind them.

When they reached the road, James said, ‘We’ll give him the benefit of the doubt for now, and assume that it all just got a bit too much for him. But he stays in the frame because I’ve got the feeling that he’s not being entirely honest with us. If he doesn’t come through tomorrow, we’ll either arrest him on suspicion or get a court order to force him to cooperate. We need his prints as soon as possible in order to compare them with those found at the farm.’

Abbott’s face slid into a half smile as she reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a clear evidence bag. Inside it was a small glass.

‘It was on the kitchen side when I went to get the water so I helped myself to it,’ she said. ‘His prints are all over it.’

James arched his brow as he took the bag from her and peered at the glass.

‘I know it’s technically theft, guv, but I could tell he was in a state and thought he might not be willing or even able to cooperate.’

James grinned. ‘Well, that’s certainly an impressive display of initiative, Detective. I’m therefore willing to turn a blind eye in this instance.’

‘Thanks, guv. I’ll be back on my best behaviour tomorrow.’

‘But bear in mind that this just gives us a head start. We’ll still need to take his prints through the formal process.’

He gave her back the bag and looked at his watch. Almost four o’clock.

‘You might as well knock off,’ he said. ‘Drop that at the office for the forensics team on the way home.’

‘And where are you going?’

‘To check on what’s happening at Kenneth O’Connor’s house. I’ll see you in the morning.’

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Kenneth O’Connor’s place was on the other side of the village, but James didn’t go straight there.

Curiosity compelled him to stop on the way at St John’s Church in order to see for himself the headstone marking the graves of Simon and Amanda Roth.

It would soon be dark so he reckoned that now was as good a time as any, and at least it would be another box ticked.