But I shake my head, because there is a hurry. What if Andrew comes back? ‘It’s complicated.’ My voice is unsteady, my thoughts all over the place as I look at them both. ‘You already know, of course, that my husband was having an affair with Stephanie Hampton. Before her, he had other affairs. Anyway, since she died, he’s been at home much more and his behaviour’s been getting increasingly aggressive. He uses foul language and thinks nothing of letting Niamh see the full force of his temper. She’s frightened of him.’ My voice cracks slightly, and my hands are shaking as I take a sip of my tea. ‘I knew things couldn’t go on as they were so I found a cottage for me and Niamh, and paid three months’ rent up front. When Niamh got home from school, I told her. I thought she’d be pleased.’ I still don’t fully understand why she reacted the way she did. ‘But she ran upstairs and I found her sobbing on her bed. Then she told me she didn’t want to go.’

Sergeant Collins is frowning. ‘Did she say why?’

I shake my head. ‘I know she’s frightened of him. I don’t know if there are other reasons for her reaction though. Then, when Andrew came in from work, she told him. I was upstairs …’ The same despair I’d felt when I realised what was happening comes back. ‘He said he’d told Niamh that he was going to have a chat with me about my “naïve little plan”, as he put it. I told him he couldn’t force me to do anything, but he said he’d do whatever he liked. He wanted me to stop dreaming up ludicrous ideas because he wouldn’t let me leave. In fact, he said he’d do anything to stop me.’ I pause. ‘I think it was at that point I knew I was in danger. But I’d gone so far, I couldn’t back down and let him believe he’d won – again. I reminded him about his affairs. Said that we didn’t love each other so there was no point continuing this charade.’

‘What did he say to that?’

I shrug. ‘He didn’t contradict me. But you understand, don’t you, that none of this is about love. It’s about Andrew’s need for control. When I didn’t say what he wanted me to say, he started to hit me.’

‘I know it’s hard …’ Sergeant Collins’s eyes don’t leave my face. ‘But we need an account of his assault. Where did it happen?’