When I get to the police station, Andrew Buckley is still in reception with Emerson, loudly demanding to make a call to his lawyer.

‘As soon as we’ve completed this paperwork, you can use the phone.’ Looking up, Emerson catches my eye.

‘Everything all right?’ I say breezily.

When Andrew Buckley spins around, there’s a look of rage on his face. ‘No, Detective Sergeant. Everything is not all right. You’ve forced me to leave my unstable wife alone with my daughter. You have no idea what you’re doing.’

‘Your wife and daughter manage perfectly well when you’re working.’ I stare at him. ‘Sign the forms, and then you can call your lawyer.’ As I walk away, I hear him swear under his breath.

*

‘He’s digging himself a hole, sir,’ I say to the DI. ‘His behaviour is classic of his type. He’s all about control. Now that he doesn’t have any, we’re seeing the real Andrew Buckley and he’s a nasty piece of work. But the problem is Elise. She’s terrified of what he’ll do when he gets out.’

‘We need to find out where he fits into this case. That’s if he does …’ The DI frowns. ‘I think we should catch him on the hop. Tell him about Mason and Operation Rainbow. Watch his reaction.’

‘We already know Hollie had something against him – we need to find out what it was. He’s calling his lawyer, by the way. I’ll let you know when they’ve arrived.’

As I walk back to reception to check how Emerson is faring, my phone buzzes. It’s Elise Buckley. My first thought is that she needs to hear a familiar voice.

‘How are you, Elise?’

‘Niamh’s just told me something. I don’t know if it’s relevant, but I thought I should tell you anyway.’ Elise sounds jittery.

My ears prick up. ‘What did she say?’

‘You know how Hollie used to wander wherever she pleased and that Niamh was with her sometimes? She said that Hollie recently climbed into Phil Mason’s property. At the time, Niamh didn’t realise whose house it was and she said she tried to stop Hollie … I just thought you ought to know.’

This confirms my suspicions that Hollie was on to Mason and my thoughts start to race. ‘Yes. Thank you very much.’

She pauses briefly. ‘I have to go.’

After she hangs up, something about what she said niggles at me. But then Emerson calls me. ‘Buckley’s lawyer is here. They’re in the interview room. I said we’d give them ten minutes.’

‘OK.’ I hesitate. ‘Do me a favour. Elise Buckley – do you have time to go back over there?’

He looks unsure. ‘I have a stack of paperwork to write up. Is it important?’

‘It’s a hunch,’ I tell him. ‘Something’s wrong …’