As she disappeared through to the bedroom, Rosie wandered over to the window and eased back the curtain, peering out again. It was completely dark outside now, the road below illuminated by a single street lamp. Was Mrs W lurking in the shadows, watching the flat?

The thought made her shudder.

She kept telling them all that the woman was still dangerous. There was no way that Bill had acted alone. She just wished they would believe her.

Liam didn’t waste any time when he got back to Adrian’s. He told Jill’s husband where he had been and admitted he was involved with Hannah. He stopped short of using the word boyfriend. They weren’t in a relationship. Involved could mean a number of things and wasn’t really a lie.

He had expected Adrian to be annoyed at his earlier deception, but the man was so good-natured and eager to get to the bottom of his wife’s death, he brushed it off.

‘What do you need to know?’

‘You said Jill had had called in sick at work. Did she give any indication why?’

‘She told the receptionist she wasn’t feeling great, but didn’t go into specifics. I did try to call her late morning, but there was no answer.’

‘Is it possible she might have had someone here with her?’

The man’s eyes widened at that. ‘You think she was having an affair?’

‘No, no, I don’t mean that. Lauren was arguing with whoever was in her home and trying to get them to leave. I’m wondering if Jill had an unwelcome visitor too.’

‘I’m sorry. You’ve lost me. You think someone was here and made her call in sick?’

Liam picked his words carefully. ‘Bill’s attack on Hannah was fuelled by rage. He beat her up and would have likely raped her before he killed her. Lauren was suffocated and Jill fell down the stairs. Both completely different to Hannah’s attack.’

‘So you don’t think he killed Lauren?’

‘I don’t.’

‘And you don’t think Jill’s death was an accident?’ Adrian’s voice wobbled as he asked the question.

‘No. If I’m right, I think a woman attacked Lauren and your wife.’

Adrian seemed a little shocked by the idea, but didn’t altogether dismiss it. ‘You think it was her, don’t you? That Wickham woman?’

Liam knew Eileen’s name had already been mentioned at the time of his wife’s death, but he ignored the question. Instead he asked, ‘Can I look around?’

‘The police have already been here. And I haven’t seen anything out of place, but I guess if you think it would help.’

Adrian hovered close while Liam poked around. He had no idea what he was looking for and knew it was likely he would find nothing, but he owed it to Hannah, Rosie, and Tash to at least try.