‘Oh. Well. One of Alex’s duties was to collect the rent from the farm.’ He said the word ironically because his dead son had been so inept.

Bea searched his face for grief but saw none. She had the sense he could easily carry on in a world with one less child and never think of it again. That couldn’t be. That was mad.

‘The German family?’ said Dan.

‘Oh, you know about them?’

‘Just that they’re there,’ said Bea.

‘Right, they rent the place. Paligny used to be the farmhouse for all of this, I suppose.’ He gestured to an imaginary estate. ‘We inherited them, so to speak. Cash. Once a month.’

‘Cash?’ said Dan.

‘Details all here.’ Griff patted a folder on the desk then picked up his laptop, checking his pockets for his wallet. ‘Dan, give me a hand with the cases,’ he said.

Dan packed up the car with him and Liv came down. They all stood aside for her to pass. Her status had been elevated by grief. It was as if she were a queen. She inhabited the role naturally, it seemed to Bea, as if she had been born to play it. She pulled her pashmina around her shoulders, making a shawl and they processed, with her at their centre, to the car. Dan opened the door of the Porsche for her. She got in, hunched and befuddled, and Bea watched her with a cold heart. All her pity had gone. She was amazed how hard she felt, she scared herself.

‘All right?’ said Dan to Liv, kindly, as he helped her.

Liv put on her sunglasses. ‘I need to go,’ she whispered, fingers fluttering around the giant frames. ‘I’ve got to get away.’

‘Dan, my briefcase is on the desk,’ said Griff. ‘Bea?’

Dan went to fetch the briefcase and she went to her father.

‘I’m sure the police will need to speak to you,’ she said.

He glanced through the windscreen at Liv’s shadowy figure. ‘They say there’s nothing worse than the death of a child,’ he said. He gripped Bea’s hand, ‘I’m so fucking angry,’ he hissed. ‘Alex kicked us in the teeth all his life. Now he’s done it again.’

‘Don’t feel guilty to be angry,’ said Bea, her hand imprisoned by his.

‘Why should I feel guilty?’ He let go of her and got into the car.

Dan ran out with his briefcase and put it into the back and, as Griff started the engine, he rolled the window down.

‘Find a proper hotel,’ he said. ‘Don’t stay here.’

The huge red car slipped between the metal gates, and away.