I don’t miss the warning note in his voice, but before I can speak, he goes on. ‘A word to the wise: Phil’s a powerful man. He’s not the kind of person you go around asking questions about.’ His voice is menacing. ‘Do I make myself clear?’

I stare at him. Is he saying Mason’s the person who involved James in this scam? But if there’s something going on, if Andrew’s involved too, I want to know. ‘That’s a little melodramatic, Andrew. This is Abingworth, for God’s sake. You’re making him sound like a Mafia boss.’

But he’s too drunk for rational conversation. His eyes flash dangerously. ‘You have no idea, do you?’ he sneers. ‘But how could you? Face it, Elise, your pathetic little life is so cut off from the real world.’

After years of him talking to me this way, his words bounce off me. Even in this state, he isn’t going to tell me what I want to know. Not wishing to escalate things, I cut him short. ‘It was an innocent question, Andrew. If you’re hungry, there’s cold chicken in the fridge. I’m going to bed.’ As I walk out, I wait for him to lumber after me, steeling myself for his hand gripping one of my arms then twisting it; for one of his blows.

At the door, I glance back to see him knocking back his whisky, praying that it’s one of those nights he’ll be too drunk to make it upstairs.

Chapter Twenty

Jo

Hollie Hampton’s murder remains unsolved, but it’s more than that, that frustrates me. Usually the whole world has an opinion on what’s going on with a murder investigation, but not in Abingworth. They’re too reticent, too reluctant to talk – about almost anything.

‘It’s as though there’s some unspoken agreement, sir. Either that, or a secret they’re all in on.’

The DI looks nonplussed. ‘Operation Rainbow, Jo … Have you identified the man who tried to lure the two young women?’

I shake my head. ‘Not yet.’

‘What about the house where the party was supposedly being held? Any clues yet?’

‘Nothing.’ I pause. ‘Niamh Buckley told us Hollie took her to a house on the edge of the village and I think there’s more she’s not telling us. She says she doesn’t know who the house belongs to. Apparently Hollie took her there through some woods. Niamh tried to show me which way they went, but there are paths leading off in every direction and she can’t remember which one they took. I’ve got the approximate location – I’m going to ask Emerson to go back over there and take a look.’

‘Good. Right now, Jo, anything’s worth trying.’