‘Yeah, that sounds like something Jordan would say,’ said Andy. ‘He said something similar to me, about his heart never healing. He also said that he should have died with his son. I guess I never realised just how badly it damaged him.’

‘I’m shocked that he’s been living in Cartoft yet no one recognised him. It’s a small village — I should know, I live there too — and everyone knows everything that goes on,’ Jackman said.

‘He did move away to start with, but something brought him back. He became a bit of a recluse after Claire left. And there’s a back entrance to the manor that leads on to a little Fen lane that connects with the main A road. He didn’t need to even go into the village.’

‘I know where you mean. It’s called Beales Lane,’ Jackman said. ‘And I see your point about the manor. I never even knew those stables had been converted. It lies well back off the road down a private drive and behind a whole lot of trees. As soon as we’re finished here, we’ll get a car round there and see if he’s left any clue as to where he went.’

‘Can you tell us anything about the car crash, Andy?’ Marie asked. ‘Like where it happened, and when.’

‘I’m not sure how long ago it was. He never said exactly when. He just phoned me one night, months ago, beside himself. I gathered it happened somewhere remote, but he never said where.’ He sat back, thinking. ‘I asked him how he found out and was shocked as hell when he said Claire had told him. Apparently, she rang him and said he’d never have his son back now.’

There was something odd about this. ‘Andy,’ Marie said, ‘if a body is found in a wrecked car, there’s always a major inquiry. There’s no mention on the Police National Computer of any RTC involving either her, her son or a car registered in her name. Besides, an unknown child’s mysterious death would be headline news. Did you see anything in the papers?’

He shook his head. ‘Nothing, and I did look. I googled it. But he was so sure about it that I never thought to question him.’

‘So, you only have his word for it. No proof.’ Jackman suspected that there had never been any car accident at all. ‘Two things spring to mind here: one, that she told him the boy was dead to stop him looking for them. And, two, she wanted to hurt him even more.’

Andy shrugged. ‘Maybe. But you didn’t hear him. True or not, he certainly believed it. Oh, and she told him she’d changed her name, so maybe your enquiries didn’t show anything up because she was using a different name.’