‘I’ll go downstairs and check in with Miles, but unless I have to go, I’d prefer to stay here.’

‘If it’s any help, my instinct tells me your father is going to cheat his maker yet again. Anyway, you go and make that call and I’ll go and see Tom, tell him what a superstar his doctor thinks he is.’ Celestria smiled and cupped her hands round her daughter’s face as she planted a kiss on her forehead. ‘What would I do without you, darling? Thank you for being here.’

‘Don’t be silly, Mum. I’ll be back in a tick.’

Jazz hurried down the stairs and out of the hospital. Switching on her mobile, she saw she had a message from Miles.

The colour drained from her face as she listened to it.

Issy was enjoying a bowl of Angelina’s excellent chicken soup when her mobile rang.

‘Excuse me,’ she said to Angelina, as she answered.

‘Are you still at the Millar house?’ It was Miles.

‘Yes. I was just on my way back to the station.’

‘Can you talk? Out of earshot?’

‘Hold on just one second.’ Issy could hear the tension in Miles’s voice. She heaved herself out of her chair. ‘Sorry, boss on the blower,’ she mouthed to Angelina, then left the kitchen and walked into the drawing room. ‘Okay, shoot.’

‘Julian Forbes’s body has just been discovered in a trunk in the cellar of Fleat House.’

Issy instinctively clapped a hand to her mouth. ‘My God! Who found him?’

‘The caretaker. He had to restart the boiler this morning. Piece of luck, actually. If there hadn’t been a burst pipe, the body might have remained there until Easter, when the boys need their trunks to go home for the holidays.’

‘How long has he been dead?’

‘A couple of days, I’d say, but the SOCOs are on their way now.’

‘Angelina is going to flip, poor love.’

‘Tell me about it. Issy, I need a favour. Can you stay where you are for now? You’re perfectly safe – we posted an officer outside the house when we knew Millar had done a bunk, but I don’t want either Mrs Millar or Rory leaving the house just for the present. I’ve called Jazz and she’s expected here in the next hour.’

‘Angelina’s ex turned up yet?’

‘No. Could you make sure that all the doors are locked, just in case David Millar is on the rampage, and decides to give his ex-wife a visit?’

‘I doubt he will, but yes.’

‘I know you doubt it, Issy, but Millar was released at about the same time as Mrs Millar last heard from Julian Forbes. And he’s been missing ever since.’

‘As I really don’t fancy eating my Auntie Madge’s behind, I have to believe it’s sheer coincidence,’ Issy murmured. ‘Especially as I have news on Rory.’

‘I’ll call you as soon as Jazz is back, but for the moment, say nothing.’

‘I will make polite and interesting conversation as well as I can.’