The police officers climbed out of their cars as Becks floored it again, the bell rope snapping tight, and this time she crushed the accelerator, the back of her car juddering left and right, the engine roaring over the sound of the driving rain, but still the oak tree wasn’t moving. It was too big. Too massive.

Inside her car, Becks took her foot off the pedal and smashed her hands into the steering wheel in frustration.

Nothing was going to be able to move the tree.

Judith was entirely on her own.

Judith had come to the same conclusion over the previous few minutes. She was on her own, and the shocking realisation had crept through her body like ice water. After all, if Becks had managed to get hold of Tanika, they’d have arrived ages ago. Something must have gone very badly wrong.

‘Go on,’ Danny said to her and Judith’s focus snapped back into the room. ‘Tell me about this link I have with these two other men.’

‘That’s easy enough,’ Judith said, even though she felt entirely numb. ‘All three of you went to the same secondary school. Sir William Borlase’s.’

‘So what? Is that all you’ve got? There’s only two secondary schools in the town. Loads of people went to the same school. And I bet I’m not even the same age as those other two people.’

‘No, that’s true. Elliot is one year older than you and Andy is four years younger.’

‘So how could I be linked to this Andy guy? I don’t even remember him.’

‘Oh you do. He was a top athlete at the time. Not that you’d know it to look at him now. But then, as a photograph reminded me, we were all very much thinner when we were younger. But what we should really be noting is Andy’s height. Because there’s no such thing as a short rower is there?’

‘No there isn’t.’

‘But there is if you’re the cox. In fact, the cox has to be as short as possible. And thin. And that’s what Andy used to be, wasn’t he? A mere slip of a thing. As he boasted to my good friend Becks Starling, he’d been quite the athlete in his youth. We dismissed the comment at the time, but it was true. He, you and Elliot were a triumphant rowing team for your school. Weren’t you?’

For the first time, Judith thought she saw panic dart in Danny’s eyes.