‘I don’t see my wife or son anywhere, do you?’ Lloyd said dryly. ‘They’ve done nothing wrong. The whole village knows you’ve been carrying on with my boy.’

‘You’ve lost your mind,’ Naomi said, trying to buy herself and her stepdaughter precious seconds of time. ‘Think about what you’re doing. Get us out of these cuffs and we’ll move back to London. You’ll never see us again.’

Lloyd gave her a knowing look. ‘It’s the classic scenario. While the cat’s away, the mouse will play. But when Ed comes home believing you’re getting it on with the local handyman, he’ll lose the plot.’ Lloyd slipped Naomi’s phone out of his pocket. ‘I texted him before you got here.’ Drawing the phone back in his hand, he squinted at the screen before reading the words aloud. ‘We need to talk. Our marriage is over. I’ve met someone.’

‘Ed would never believe that,’ Naomi said. ‘And never in a million years would he hurt us. He doesn’t even own a gun!’ She tugged hard on the handcuff, which clanged against the wooden rungs of the chair. Sweat trickled down her back as she tried to make him see sense.

With one hand, Lloyd flicked the cap off his hipflask and guzzled its contents. Licking his lips, he raised the gun, looking at it with something akin to admiration.

‘This little beauty came with the house.’ He ran a hand over the smooth barrel. ‘Let’s say your husband found it when you moved in.’

Naomi stared in disbelief. Was this the original murder weapon? As crazy as Lloyd’s plans were, he had clearly thought them through.

‘All people will see is a family tragedy,’ Lloyd continued. ‘Just as it was before.’ He directed his gaze towards Morgan. ‘Ed kills his cheating wife in a fit of rage, then shoots through the bedroom door, not realising his daughter is behind it. Morgan takes a bullet instead of John, who has left through the back door. Then Ed can’t live with what he’s done.’ His gaze was glassy. Was he recalling memories of the past? Had Susan and Lloyd been having an affair – a way for him to get close to Grace? Had Martin Harper wiped out his family in a fit of hopeless rage?

‘John hears gunshots and calls me,’ Lloyd continued with his imaginary scenario. ‘I’m at home, watching the game on TV. I’ve had a drink or two, but I come straight over to help.’ He leaned into Naomi and growled, ‘Everyone in the village knows what you’ve been up to, you little whore.’

‘What about you? You’re a paedophile!’ Morgan screamed with brutal indignation.