Norton tutted. ‘Yes, I remember the odd clever working-class boy on a bursary at my old school. I’m ashamed to say we gave them a rough time. The old British class system – never seems to disappear from our psyche. I’m sure that will have played a part in the boy’s suicide, too.’

‘However appalling, you’re almost certainly right, Sir.’

‘So, grief obviously sent the woman mad,’ Norton concluded.

‘Spot on, Sir. When I interviewed Adam a couple of days ago, he told me that after Jamie was found hanged, the “Gang of Four” were all paid a visit by Smith, and told that one day she’d make them pay for what they had done to her son. She left the school soon after, but Adam says none of them ever forgot her words.’

‘It turned out to be no idle threat. Tell me about Jenny Colman,’ Norton said. ‘How is she?’

‘Out of hospital and at home. She’s doing well, considering. Still reeling from the shock of the woman she considered her best friend trying to murder her. Jenny had guessed. Thank God we got there in time. She’s a lovely lady. Throughout adversity, she’s put on a brave face, never blamed anyone for her misfortune. And . . .’ Jazz smiled, ‘there is one silver lining out of this cloud. Martin Chapman discovered something very interesting when he was comparing DNA samples.’

‘He’s discovered who her long-lost son is?’

‘Yes,’ Jazz nodded. ‘By complete coincidence, Martin had seen a similar DNA pattern only the day before, during the course of the forensic examination at the crime scene. He cross-checked them and found they were identical.’

‘May I ask who?’ enquired Norton.

‘Sir, as it’s not relevant to the case, would you be offended if I didn’t tell you? I feel both Jenny and her son should be the first to know,’ Jazz explained.

‘Of course.’ Norton smiled at her. ‘So, what was it Smith had said to her that made Jenny realise she might be involved?’

‘Jenny said that Maddy, as she calls her, mentioned to her last Friday morning, which was the day after Forbes was found dead, that Rory was all Angelina Millar would have, and I quote, “now he’s gone”. At the time, the fact we’d found a body at all was still a secret, let alone that it was Julian Forbes. Jenny also couldn’t understand how Smith knew about Angelina’s relationship with Forbes. It couldn’t have been Rory who told her. He didn’t know. So when she heard the following day from Robert Jones it was Julian who had been murdered, and knowing more than anyone how Smith blamed him and his cohorts for her son’s suicide, Jenny put two and two together.’

‘So, before she spoke to you, she went to ask Maddy Smith to explain?’

‘Yes. Smith told Jenny that Sebastian Frederiks had told her about Forbes dying, put her mind at rest, whilst making Jenny a cup of tea filled with antifreeze. Not enough, thank God, to do much damage but, really, Sir, this is the third case we’ve had. Can you not suggest to your friends in high places they should do something? It’s readily available and if it doesn’t kill, it leaves the victim wishing they were dead.’