‘You don’t have to worry about that, sir, I’ll be fine. I’m not as worried as my wife and I need something to keep my mind occupied.’

‘Okay, but keep me posted if anything changes. I had a word with Kenneth O’Connor when he arrived at Kendal, by the way. He answered no comment to every question I put to him,’ Tanner said. ‘We can have another go at him in the morning.’

James put the kettle on and while he waited for it to boil, he used his phone to bring up the latest news stories on Andrew Sullivan. There were plenty of them and they all focused on the fact that he was wanted by the police.

It was in connection with the murder of a man named Kyle Ramsay, who used to be one of Sullivan’s inner-circle henchmen. The guy had been shot dead outside a South London pub and witnesses saw a man matching Sullivan’s description fleeing the scene. Sullivan made himself scarce shortly after.

As James made Annie’s tea, his mind raced and his heart beat rapidly. He hoped he wouldn’t regret assuring Tanner that this wouldn’t hinder his ability to cope with the current investigation.

The truth was he didn’t know for sure how much of a distraction it would prove to be going forward. He guessed it would depend on how many more bombshells landed on him.

Later that evening a blizzard hit Kirkby Abbey with a vengeance and James and Annie lay in bed listening to the howling wind and the snow lashing their bedroom window.

But it wasn’t the only thing that kept them awake. Andrew Sullivan was still foremost on their minds and the arrival of the patrol car now parked across the road provided little comfort.

It was after midnight before Annie finally dropped off, but for James sleep proved more elusive. His overactive brain refused to rest and Sullivan’s face was just one of a number that demanded his attention. The others belonged to the individuals who figured in the Oaktree Farm investigation – everyone from the three victims to the characters who were emerging as credible suspects.

The case was proving to be a real challenge and to solve it he needed to be fully focused. But he wasn’t convinced that was going to be possible now that he had to put more effort into making sure that Annie was safe. It was an added burden and one he could have done without.

It was just after three in the morning when he finally dropped off to sleep and barely an hour later the ringing of his phone jolted him awake again.

It was DC Dawn Isaac on the line and she sounded excited.