‘Just that they were having money problems and James was told it would make him a lot of money. She didn’t know who he’s involved with.’ I look at DS May, wondering how much of this she already knows. ‘What he hadn’t realised was that once he’d looked at the site on his laptop, it was there in his search history – and whoever runs this, has a list. When he wanted to withdraw his investment, they started blackmailing him. If he didn’t pay, they’d tell the police. Now, they’re on the brink of losing everything.’

All the time I’ve been speaking, DS May has been making notes. ‘How long has she known?’

I try to remember if Stephanie told me. ‘I’m not sure, but not long. She was horrified when she found out,’ I emphasise, not wanting DS May to imagine Stephanie was complicit.

DS May leans back, looking oddly satisfied, rather than shocked, as I go on.

‘There’s something else. This I’m less sure about.’ I hesitate. ‘I think I told you before that I regularly go running. One morning, almost two weeks after Hollie was found, I took a different route, which comes out in the woods up the lane.’

‘On the way in from the main road?’ When I nod, DS May writes it down.

‘As I came out of the trees, I saw James’s car. I was about to go and speak to him, when another car turned up. It parked next to him and he went over and had an angry conversation with the driver. It ended with James shouting and thumping his fist on the roof of the car before it drove away.’

‘Did you hear what was said?’

I shake my head. ‘I was too far away. But they were definitely arguing.’

‘You didn’t see who the other driver was? Or recognise the car?’

I shake my head. ‘All I noticed was that it was black and expensive-looking, like a lot of cars around here.’ I pause. ‘There’s one final thing. I don’t know if you’ve met Phil Mason? At Hollie’s funeral, I saw James giving him a venomous look I couldn’t explain and I also noticed he went out of his way to avoid him. It made me wonder if Phil Mason could have been the person James was yelling at in the car. Then later …’ I pause again, remembering what Andrew had said. ‘I asked my husband if he knew Phil Mason, or if he knew whether Phil and James were friends. He told me he did know him and then he said, “He’s not the kind of person you go around asking questions about”.’

DS May makes more notes then looks up. ‘Are your husband and Mason friends?’

‘Acquaintances, yes. Friends, I really don’t know.’ I shake my head.

‘When did Stephanie Hampton tell you about James?’