‘Oh, DI Jackman, you have no idea! That day was just dreadful! Most of their stuff had already been moved out. It was the final clear-up, and they argued the whole day, right through till the evening, when they were due to leave. My husband was away all that day, helping an old friend with his allotment, so I was alone, and, well . . .’ She sniffed. ‘I just cried. Then, at the eleventh hour, as they say, Claire pushed the boy outside and locked him in her car. She went back inside and screamed at Jordan that he wasn’t having Christopher. There was a crash and a shout, then silence. I don’t know what I believed at that point. Then Jordan started saying terrible things to her — that he’d find her, that he’d hunt her down and that he’d have his child back, no matter what. I’d never heard him speak like that to her. Never. It was as if he’d suddenly turned into someone else. Then she ran out and got in the car and drove away. Moments later, he emerged. He was staggering and he had blood pouring down his face.’ She shivered. ‘I’ll never forget the look on that face of his. It was anguish, Officers, and hurt, and hatred too. And then he was gone. I never saw any of them again, and I never spoke about it either.’

‘Perhaps it might have helped to share it, Elspeth,’ said Marie kindly. ‘That was a lot for you to bear alone.’

‘Thing was,’ Elspeth continued, ‘Claire was such a pretty thing, and so sweet to everyone except her husband that no one would have believed me. She certainly had a temper on her. Uncontrollable sometimes, it was. Our houses were attached, they shared a wall, so I heard more than others, but they all heard the rows. Everyone thought it was Jordan who was the violent one. Naturally, Claire said nothing to change their minds, so they all felt sorry for her. I often wonder where she took the poor little lad.’

‘Seems that she and her son trailed from refuge to refuge, telling people she was escaping her “violent and abusive” husband,’ said Jackman.

‘But, it wasn’t like that at all. Unless . . . I said he changed when she hurt him, then took the boy. Maybe it turned his brain. Maybe he carried out his threat to find her.’

Maybe you’re right, thought Marie grimly.

‘It would serve her right, to be honest, but little Teddy deserved better.’ Elspeth gave them a sad smile. ‘And that’s all I can tell you.’

‘You’ve been amazing, and we do thank you.’ Jackman stood up. ‘Now we’ll leave you in peace. You can forget this sad episode now, it’s all in the past.’