‘But it left Elliot with the same problem he’d always had. The picture frame that had started all of this off, the very thing he’d originally broken into the house to get, that he’d been prepared to commit murder over, was still hanging on Stefan’s wall. So he had to leave it a few days for the heat to die down, and then he made his third attempt to break into Stefan’s house, stupid man. This evening. But this time, although I nearly managed to stop him, he finally got what he’d always wanted. The frame.’

‘But how can a picture frame be that important?’ Becks asked. ‘Why would it be worth killing over?’

‘I’ve no idea. But if we can find the frame, I’m sure we’ll be able to work it out.’

‘Well, I’ll tell you this much,’ Tanika said. ‘It’s an impressive theory.’

‘Thank you.’

‘Except for one small detail,’ she added. ‘When you say you heard Elliot Howard shoot Stefan dead, he was at choir practice in All Saints’ Church in front of at least twenty other witnesses.’

‘Including me,’ Becks said apologetically. ‘And there’s also CCTV footage of him at the practice,’ she offered to Tanika. ‘He very definitely was at All Saints’ the whole time.’

‘But you’ve seen the look he gives the camera at the end!’ Judith said in frustration. ‘He’s smug, he’s superior.’

‘All of which I’d say he is naturally,’ Tanika said. ‘And I can tell you, we’ve found no link between Elliot and Iqbal Kassam, none at all.’

‘But Elliot has to be our killer. Because if he isn’t, then who is?’

Neither Tanika nor Becks had an answer to that.

Chapter 14

Two police cars arrived and Tanika was soon leading her team in processing the scene of the break-in. Judith and Becks gave their formal statements and found themselves leaving Stefan’s house at the same time.

‘You can’t possibly punt back home,’ Becks said to Judith. ‘Not with an injured wrist.’

‘Don’t worry about the wrist, it’s feeling better already.’

‘Even so, let me give you a lift home. You can return and pick up your punt tomorrow.’

‘Actually, that would be very kind of you. Thank you.’

‘Hop in,’ Becks said, opening the passenger door to her gleamingly white 4x4. It was such a massive machine that Judith had to pull herself up to get into it. Why on earth did Home County housewives drive such monsters, Judith asked herself as Becks climbed in on her side.

A few minutes later, Becks was crossing the suspension bridge and turning down Ferry Lane, the single-track road on the Bisham side of the river that led to Judith’s house.

‘You must pop in for a quick drink when we get there,’ Judith said.