On the table by the window, an office shredder was sucking in a piece of paper, slicing it into the thinnest of strips and spewing them out into a clear cellophane bag attached to the back. Judith couldn’t see what was being shredded, but it was glossy, as if it had come from a magazine, and Andy instinctively moved across so her view of the shredder was blocked.

He looked guilty as hell.

‘What’s that?’ he said, trying to buy himself time.

‘Which is all I wanted to say,’ Judith said, if only so she could make a quick exit. ‘I do have a job. I’m not a busybody, and you should treat your elders and betters with a bit more respect. Good day to you.’

And with that, she turned and left the room. But this time, she knew that Andy was implicated somehow in Iqbal’s death. After all, an innocent man doesn’t immediately start shredding papers the moment he’s accused of wrongdoing, does he?

So what was the document that Andy was shredding? And why was it so important to him to destroy it the moment he’d finished talking to Judith?

Chapter 22

The three women repaired to the vicarage for a council of war, it being only a little way down the High Street from Andy Bishop’s office.

‘We need to find out what Andy was shredding,’ Judith said, as she sat down and was almost entirely engulfed by the puffy Laura Ashley sofa in Becks’ sitting room.

‘There’s no way of finding out,’ Becks said as she entered the room with cups of tea and a plate of biscuits. ‘Tea?’

‘Oo, thanks,’ Suzie said as she grabbed a biscuit.

‘It’s normal builders’ tea,’ Becks said, failing to hide her distaste at the thought. ‘And there’s a ramekin of sugar.’

‘Lovely,’ Suzie said, delighted.

‘If only we could get hold of the shredded paper,’ Judith said, ‘I think I’d be able to work out what was on it.’

‘How?’ Suzie asked. ‘Surely it’s impossible if it’s shredded.’

‘Oh no, I think it’s eminently possible. But it’s something of a moot point if we can’t get hold of the pieces.’

‘Which we won’t be able to do,’ Becks said, pouring out three steaming cups of tea.

‘I’m not sure I agree with you there,’ Suzie said.

‘You don’t?’

‘There’s a way we can get our hands on whatever it was Andy Bishop shredded.’

‘But how?’

‘Well, that’s simple enough. We walk in there and take it.’

‘He won’t let us do that!’

‘Of course not. So we’ll have to take it without him realising.’

‘But,’ Becks said, as she followed through the logic of what Suzie had said. ‘That’s theft.’

‘You could call it that.’

Becks was horrified.

Judith leant forward, excitement sparkling her eyes.