‘Just before the funeral. She asked me to wait a few days. She wanted them to remember Hollie without the funeral being sullied by what James had got involved with.’

Her face is unreadable. ‘You didn’t think you should tell us right away?’

‘Of course I know I should have.’ My face feels flushed, and I glance away, trying to remember exactly what I’d been thinking. ‘But they’d just lost a child. To me, respecting their grief took precedence over everything. I could understand her wanting to have the funeral without everyone talking about what James had done. Anyway, Stephanie did say she was going to call you – I just thought too much time had already passed and I shouldn’t wait any longer.’

‘Mrs Buckley …’ DS May pauses. ‘Please don’t keep information related to a crime to yourself. You could be charged with perverting the course of justice.’ She sounds less than impressed.

Heat rises in my cheeks. ‘I did what I thought was right.’

‘It wasn’t your decision to make. We would have spoken to Mr Hampton but it wouldn’t necessarily have interfered with the funeral.’ She pauses. ‘When did you last see Mrs Hampton?’

‘Today.’ I look at her. ‘I went to her salon.’

‘Is she still there now?’

I glance at the clock on the wall. ‘If it’s quiet, she closes early. You may have missed her for today.’

As DS May gets up, I ask, ‘What happens now?’

‘Obviously we have to talk to both her and Mr Hampton. Have you told anyone else what you’ve told me?’

‘No.’

‘Be careful, Mrs Buckley.’ Her face is grave. ‘Desperate people are capable of extreme things. If you’re concerned at any time, call the police.’

‘What’s going on?’ Registering the seriousness of what she’s saying, I feel the blood drain from my face.

‘I can’t say anything for sure, but there may be other people in the village who are involved in the same …’ She hesitates before adding, ‘The same business as James Hampton. I would be very careful who you mention this to.’

It’s only after she’s driven away that I realise what I forgot to tell her – that I’m sure Stephanie’s told James that I know.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Jo

‘Why didn’t we know this before?’ Getting up, the DI paces over to the window. ‘There have been enough police officers poking around the Hamptons’ home since Hollie died. All with their bloody eyes closed, by the looks of it.’

‘Stephanie Hampton asked her to wait until after Hollie’s funeral, and so Elise Buckley decided to keep it to herself.’ But he’s right. We should have picked up on it.