While she waited for Jackman to arrive, Stacey began to wonder if she’d overreacted. Then she considered the way that Ratty had been murdered, in cold blood, and that his killer could also send a harmless ninety-year-old crashing down the stairs to her death. He could easily have suffocated another frail old woman.

DI Jackman and DS Evans arrived in the wake of the undertaker’s black-windowed vehicle, looking like part of a funeral procession. Stacey was happy to leave it to them to decide about Ma Jones’s end. Jackman assured her that she’d done the right thing and called the pathologist.

Stacey couldn’t help thinking that mother and son might have died at exactly the same moment. Which meant, of course, that his killer couldn’t have murdered her. But in a way, that made it all the more spooky . . .

She took a deep breath and went to help Jay disperse the people still loitering in hopes of seeing — what, exactly?

‘There’s nothing to see here, folks. Just go home now and let us do our job.’

Somewhat reluctantly, the people dispersed. ‘You look shattered, Stace,’ Jay said. ‘You okay?’

She nodded.

He didn’t pursue it, and she was grateful. What a lucky sod she’d been to get paired up with this remarkable young man. How different he was to the constables she usually encountered.

Half an hour later, Jackman called to them from the static. ‘Cardiff’s satisfied that it’s death by natural causes. She suspects Ma Jones suffered a DVT in her damaged leg and a clot travelled to her heart, causing a heart attack. The old lady’s being taken to the morgue.’

‘Our two paramedics will be mightily relieved,’ said Stacey.

‘You might like to contact them, Stacey, and let them know there’ll be no comeback,’ said Jackman. ‘We’ll close up the caravan and make sure the site manager knows that no one goes in there until we say so.’

‘Shall we tell him what happened, sir?’ asked Jay.

The DI nodded. ‘Yes, but just give him the bare bones. No details, and definitely no mention of a connection to the other murder.’

Stacey and Jay went to find their car. Stacey glanced at her watch and was surprised to see it was still only eleven in the morning. She’d had enough of today already.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

‘Blimey, mate, we’re a bit thin on the ground!’ Kevin Stoner looked around the deserted CID room. Seated at his desk, Charlie Button was the only person left.

‘Ratty Jones got taken out by the midnight stalker last night,’ Charlie said. ‘The boss and the sarge are out at the crime scene, Robbie is chasing up people connected to the women who had their pictures stolen, and Max isn’t due in until later.’