‘Really? So there’s one ring missing?’

‘Yes. Never bothered getting it replaced. No point really. Doubtful anyone will be wearing it in the future.’

‘Well, let’s wait and see, shall we?’ Jazz stood up. ‘Emily, thank you so much for your hospitality and all your help. I’ll return this lock of hair to you in the next few days, and let you know the news as soon as I can. No, please don’t get up. I’ll see myself out.’

‘Goodbye then, Inspector. Glad to have been of help.’

Jazz got to the door and stopped. ‘Just one more question: do you happen to remember the name of the girl who was pregnant by Corin?’

‘Well, of course I do,’ Emily replied crossly. ‘I’m not completely senile, whatever my son might say. She was the daughter of one of our employees. She was Corin’s daily for a few months when he lived in the cottage. Her name was Jenny Colman.’

Outside the house, Jazz climbed into her car and paused to listen to the message from Miles, saying he’d been to Julian Forbes’s office to interview Julian’s colleagues and meet the SOCOs. There was nothing urgent to report, apparently, and he’d see her at the station tomorrow morning.

She dialled Martin Chapman’s mobile number.

He answered on the first ring. ‘Martin, where are you?’

‘At the lab in Norwich.’

‘I need one of your chaps to process and cross-check some DNA samples urgently.’

‘Can it wait till I’m back in London?’

‘No. I need it done now. If you give me the address of the lab, I’ll get Miles to drive the sample across to you now.’

Martin did so and Jazz scribbled it down.

‘Julian’s car has just turned up here, so I’m going to be burning the midnight oil anyway, going over that. I’ll see if I can persuade someone in the lab to process your DNA in the next twenty-four hours.’

‘I need the results by tomorrow, Martin.’

‘I’ll do my best, but Patrick is demanding a full forensic report first thing in the morning. Otherwise, he says he’ll have to close the school.’

‘Does he, indeed?!’ she snapped, then checked herself, cross for letting her anger slip out. ‘Just do what you can, Martin. And I owe you dinner.’

‘I’ll take you up on that, Jazz.’

‘Any news so far?’

‘I’m working on it. I’ll see you tomorrow morning with a full forensic report.’

‘Look forward to it. Thanks, Martin, and bye.’

‘Cheers.’

Jazz dialled Miles’s number. He answered immediately.

‘Yes, Ma’am?’

‘Where are you?’

‘At the hotel, just about to sit down for dinner.’

‘Alone?’

‘Er . . . no. Issy’s here with me.’

Jazz smiled to herself as she heard the discomfort in his voice. ‘Sorry to break up the tête-à-tête, but I need you to take something to the lab in Norwich for me. Can you meet me in the school car park in fifteen minutes?’

‘Yes, Ma’am.’

‘Where’s Patrick?’ she asked.

‘Still at the station.’