‘Someone who knew Hollie, who watches what goes—’ Then it occurs to me. ‘Actually, there is someone, sir …’

*

‘I appreciate your seeing me at short notice,’ I say to Ida Jones as she shows me into her sitting room. ‘I couldn’t think of anyone else to ask.’

‘I’m not sure I can help. I told you before what I know.’ Her face softens. ‘So what is it?’

‘Do you know Philip Mason, Mrs Jones?’

She nods. ‘I do. Can’t say I think much of him. He’s too charming. People like that are never what they seem.’

‘Like Doctor Buckley.’ His name slips out before I can stop it.

She frowns. ‘I wouldn’t say he was charming. That man’s a common bully. He thinks the world of himself, doesn’t he? I feel sorry for her, though – Elise. She’s a nice woman, but he rules that house. And that poor girl …’

‘Niamh?’

Ida Jones nods. ‘Best thing for her was when young Hollie was her friend. Gave her a bit of normality in her life. Didn’t last though, did it? That father of hers saw to that.’

‘What do you mean?’

Her face is sharp as she looks at me. ‘Didn’t like her, did he? Or has he lied and told you he thought she was wonderful? She was wonderful, you know, just like her mother. Hollie should have been a film star.’

I level with her. ‘Mrs Jones, I’m not sure how much I really know about anyone in this village. It’s as though there’s an unspoken secret they’re all keeping.’

‘And you think I might know what it is.’

I nod. ‘Did you know Dylan?’

‘Yes,’ she says softly. ‘Him and Hollie … they were a real love story, those two. I was very sad after everything that happened.’

‘Can you tell me what you remember about that time?’

Her face is sombre. ‘I used to see them all over the place – walking along the road, up at the churchyard. They never argued. All you saw was his arm around her shoulders, his head leaning down towards hers … They had the same dark hair.’ She pauses, remembering. ‘That’s how it was whenever I saw them. At my time of life, it was a blessing to be reminded of how true love felt … they seemed to be everything love should be.’

I feel myself frown as I listen to her. ‘So what went wrong?’

Her face clouds over. ‘I never really understood. But after they broke up, and before he died, I remember I kept seeing Hollie on her own, running along the road, all times of the day and night. She looked desperate …’

‘Do you remember seeing Dylan after they broke up?’