‘I heard Bob’s scream, and ran down to the cellar to see what the problem was. And I was able to identify him,’ Frederiks explained.

‘He was a person known to you then?’ Jazz asked.

‘Coincidentally, yes, although I hadn’t seen him for many years. He was in the year above me here at St Stephen’s. I knew instantly it was Julian. Poor chap. I still can’t quite believe it.’ Frederiks shook his head.

‘So you hadn’t seen him for how long?’

‘Maybe fifteen years?’ He shrugged. ‘We both moved on to university, then ended up for a while in London together. I saw him a couple of times for a pint, but then I came back to Norfolk and he stayed in London. I had heard he’d returned to Norfolk recently, but neither of us had made any particular effort to get together. You know how it is.’

Jazz saw Bob Gilkes was looking green around the gills. ‘Bob, why don’t you go home? Have a lie-down? Leave your telephone number with the detective on the door, in case we need to contact you again.’

‘Thanks, missus.’ Bob stood up gratefully.

‘And as I’m sure DS Miles has already indicated, I want you to keep this discovery to yourself for now. We don’t want to scare the pupils, or the staff, until we’ve figured out just what has happened down there.’

‘O’course. I won’t even tell my wife, I swear.’

‘Thanks, Bob.’

Jazz waited until he left the room before she turned to Frederiks.

‘Mr Frederiks, did you know that Julian was very soon to be Rory Millar’s stepfather?’

Frederiks looked genuinely surprised. ‘No, I didn’t. I’d never seen him with Rory. I’d no idea that Mrs Millar even had a partner. Rory certainly never mentioned him.’

‘Rory wasn’t aware that his mother was in a relationship. Mrs Millar was very keen to see Rory had some time to get over the divorce before introducing Julian into the mix,’ Jazz explained.

There was a knock on the door and DS Roland appeared. ‘The SOCOs have arrived from London, Ma’am. They’re unloading now.’

‘Thank you. Tell them I’ll be with them in five.’ She nodded. Turning her attention back to Frederiks, she said, ‘I hear you’ve just come into some money, Mr Frederiks.’

Sebastian raised an eyebrow and fiddled nervously with the gold signet ring which sat on his little finger. ‘Yes. I didn’t realise it was public knowledge.’

‘It isn’t, but, under the circumstances, we were interested as to who Mr Daneman had bequeathed his estate to. You were obviously close to him?’

Sebastian shrugged his shoulders. ‘Not close enough to think he would leave me most of his estate. To be honest, I was very surprised, if pleasurably, of course.’

‘You had no idea you were in the will, Mr Frederiks?’ Patrick cut in.

‘None, no.’

Patrick raised his eyebrows. ‘I see.’

‘Do you know Jenny Colman, Mr Frederiks?’ Jazz asked.

‘I know her, yes. But not intimately. She’s worked here forever. Why?’