‘Andrew won’t be going anywhere fast,’ I tell her. ‘We’re still interviewing him.’ I pause, watching as she fiddles with her hands. ‘Listen. You have to take action. If you don’t, what are you saying to Niamh? That it’s OK to be bullied and beaten by your husband? That you’re supposed to stay put instead of leaving him?’ Pausing, I look at her sympathetically. ‘Imagine Niamh’s relationships in the future. You and Andrew are her blueprint. Yes, it will be difficult, but if you act, you will be empowering her. You have the chance to show her you’re strong and that it’s OK for her to be, too.’ Pausing again, I watch the faintest flicker of hope in Elise’s eyes. ‘No-one’s going to believe Andrew when he claims you’re unstable. More and more people are seeing through him. And you’re not going to lose your job.’

‘But you know what he’s like. We won’t be safe.’ There’s desperation in her voice.

‘He knows we’re on to him. And you’re not going to be doing this alone,’ I say gently. ‘You need a good lawyer who understands coercive control and domestic abuse, so that you can get things set in motion as soon as possible.’ I pause. ‘I was hoping to talk to Niamh. Has she said anything else about when Hollie took her to Mason’s property?’

As Elise shakes her head, our conversation is interrupted by my phone buzzing with an unfamiliar number. ‘Excuse me a moment.’

I turn away from Elise. ‘May.’

After listening with interest, I end the call. ‘I’m sorry. I have to make another call. I won’t be a minute.’ Going outside, I put a call through to the DI.

‘Sir? I’ve just heard from the estate agent who measured up Mason’s house. Mason’s been in touch – apparently he’s asked the agent to meet him there later today.’

Chapter Forty-Three

Elise

Just as there are two hundred and fifty-six shades of the colour grey, there are as many permutations of our ideas about what’s right. But most of us know what’s wrong.

The thought reminds me of the magazine headline once again. Only Ten Per Cent of People are Good. Out of the ninety per cent that aren’t, I imagine most of them are ignorant rather than bad. But that’s not the same as the percentage who know something’s wrong and do it anyway, calculatedly and coldly, the way Andrew does.