‘Do we know if he’s in a relationship?’ James asked.

Isaac shook her head. ‘According to his Facebook page he’s single, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t in a relationship.’

It was then the turn of Tony Coppell, the Chief Forensic Officer, to update the team. He chose to do so by using the new interactive whiteboard, which enabled him to project and manipulate files and images onto the wall-mounted screen.

Using a remote control, he started by flicking through photos of the crime scene.

‘Despite a thorough search of the grounds and the water around the jetty we still haven’t come across a murder weapon, and as the grounds are now covered in snow the search has had to be halted. It should be noted that the area was severely compromised even before the storm by people searching for the victim before we got there.’

He brought up images of Rachel’s mobile phone, laptop and tablet.

‘The phone was in her purse at the scene and we took the other two devices from her bedroom at home. The technical team are in the process of extracting the digital data from those, however, we’ve already managed to gain access to her phone and have discovered that the last time she used it was at five-forty on New Year’s Eve, which must have been just before she was killed. She sent a WhatsApp message to her sister.’

‘That would have been just minutes after Libby and Ethan Prescott tried to talk to her on the garden path,’ James said.

Coppell nodded. ‘That’s why I thought you would find it of particular interest and perhaps relevance. Check it out.’

Another press of the remote and the message appeared on the screen. As James read it, he felt the blood stir in his veins.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

A hush descended on the room as the team stared at the message on the big screen.

You disgust me, Libby. I’m not going to keep your sordid secret so make the most of today. And tell that slimy bastard Ethan that if he ever lays a hand on me again, I’ll have him put away.

A low murmur spread around the room and someone let out a loud whistle.

‘This could be a potential game changer,’ James said so that everyone could hear. ‘What sordid secret is her sister supposed to be keeping and did Rachel place herself in danger by threatening to reveal it?’

‘I can confirm that the message was read only seconds after it was sent,’ Coppell chipped in.

‘That would mean Libby saw it just before she and Prescott took their seats in the main hall for the wedding breakfast,’ DC Abbott pointed out.

James nodded. ‘You have to wonder then if one or both of them found the time to go looking for Rachel so they could plead with her to keep her mouth shut.’

‘I find it hard to believe that Libby would have killed her own sister,’ Abbott said. ‘Surely, whatever the secret is, it can’t be that serious.’