Judith’s mind was reeling, she didn’t know how to respond, so she lashed out.

‘I think you’ll find I can do what I like as long as you refuse to pay for cleaning my dress.’

‘You’re not still pretending I spilt wine on you, are you?’

Judith knew her only option was to double down.

‘You know you did, and I’ve got the dress to prove it.’

‘Pathetic.’

‘And I’ll come and show you it, and then you’ll pay for it.’

‘Oh, I don’t think we’ll meet again.’

Elliot was so casual in the way he said this that Judith was instantly alarmed.

‘You can’t possibly know that.’

‘I think I can.’

‘Well, it’s a Thursday today, isn’t it? So you’ll be at the church at seven for choir practice. I’ll bring the dress to you then. I’d like to see you refuse to pay for its dry cleaning in front of all of your friends.’

‘Sadly, I won’t be at choir practice tonight. I’m off to a football match in Highbury with some old friends. Goodbye, Mrs Potts.’

The line went dead, and Judith shivered as though someone had walked over her grave, which in many respects, was exactly what she suspected had just happened.

Judith’s legs buckled under her and she sat down on her sofa. Her mind was frozen. She was unable to process anything.

Dimly, though, she realised there was something she had to do.

She picked up her phone again, looked up the number of Andy Bishop’s company and called it.

When the receptionist answered, Judith explained who she was and asked to be put through to Mr Bishop.

‘Unfortunately,’ the voice said on the other end of the line, ‘Mr Bishop is away on business at the moment.’

‘He is?’ Judith managed to reply. ‘When will he be back?’

‘I believe he said he was travelling to Plymouth this afternoon and staying the night. But I know he’ll be back in the office on Monday morning. Would you like to make an appointment for then?’

‘No,’ Judith said in a whisper and hung up.

As she did so, a depth charge of fear detonated inside her.

Because she now knew the truth. There weren’t going to be just three murders in Marlow, were there? There was going to be a fourth. And it was going to be her.

Chapter 38

That evening, a storm broke. Thick clouds had rolled in from the west all afternoon, and then, at teatime, the heavens opened, the rain pummelling down, the sky splitting with terrifying bolts of lightning.

Judith didn’t know what to do. She was sure she’d finally worked out who’d committed the murders, but how to prove it, that was the question. She felt so frustrated – outwitted, even – and it wasn’t a feeling she liked. Not one bit.