Annie went to where her son was sitting perched on a footstool and hugged him. ‘Sorry, my love. Would you prefer to go and watch TV or listen to your music? Maybe this is all a bit much for you.’

‘No way! I’m one of those kids in the pictures you’re talking about.’ He paused. ‘And I’m the record keeper. You guys need me.’

‘He’s right,’ said Patsy, speaking for the first time. ‘Callum might just provide some insight that you’re all missing. I think he’s very useful. If he hadn’t produced that brilliant list of possible callers, no one would have remembered the Sky engineer.’

‘Which is a vital clue,’ added Fleur. ‘Now we’ll be able to give the police a clear description of the night stalker.’

As the meeting began to wind down, Patsy helped Annie carry the cups out to the kitchen. ‘Patsy,’ Annie confided, ‘I think we’ll have to find a time to talk when my son’s not around. I know I can’t keep him off school forever, but he’s all I’ve got now his brother’s left home, and frankly until the police know what’s going on, I’m terrified for his safety. But right now I want to find out if any or all of us has something, um, irregular in our past concerning the children in those photos. You know, like a custody battle or a doubt regarding parentage. Anything that could give rise to ill feeling. You don’t kill an old woman of ninety for no reason at all, do you?’

‘You’re right there. But you’re going to have a problem leaving Callum out of it, aren’t you? Does he have a close friend whose parents would be willing to invite him out for a day? Or for a sleepover?’

‘He’s getting too old for those, and he’s a bit of a loner now his brother has gone into the RAF.’

‘Is his brother stationed locally?’ Patsy said.

‘RAF Marham in Norfolk. Not far at all. Why?’

‘What would be the chance of a flying visit? Excuse the pun.’ Patsy raised an eyebrow.

‘Ah, right! Good idea! I’ll text him tonight. If he can spend some time with Callum, I’ll be able to slip out and meet you all alone. We’ve done really well today, but I think there’s a lot more to it than this.’

‘I hate to say it,’ Patsy said, ‘but I think you’re right.’

Before they left, Annie addressed the group. ‘I’ve been thinking. I would still rather the police didn’t know we’re meeting like this, in case they object. So maybe just one of us could ring and say she’d recalled the Sky man’s visit?’