Next to her was Gordon Carver, who was rubbing his fingers through his closely cropped hair. James knew he was in his early thirties and whenever they’d met before he had always appeared cool, calm and composed. Now he looked shocked and flustered in a long, beige overcoat that was stained with mud and slush.

‘Care to explain exactly what led to the pair of you fighting like a couple of kids in a school playground?’ James said, his eyes firmly fixed on Carver.

The reporter’s face tightened as he struggled to regain his composure and get his breath back.

‘Slade here lost his temper and snatched Elena’s camera from her,’ he said. ‘I tried to take it back and we came to blows, then ended up on the ground just before you arrived.’

‘Now tell the detectives why I took the camera from you,’ Slade snapped.

Carver was about to respond but stopped himself when Libby let out a giant sob, then turned and rushed into the house through the open front door.

James told Abbott to go and check on her, then turned his attention back to Carver.

‘That poor woman has been through enough and this is the last thing she needs,’ he said. ‘So, finish what you were going to say and then you and Elena need to leave here, assuming I’m not going to be expected to take any formal action against anyone.’

Carver wrapped his arms around his upper body and said, ‘We came to see if we could interview Mr and Mrs Murphy about what happened at their wedding. Mrs Murphy came to the door and told us that her husband was out and she didn’t want to speak to me. I tried to persuade her as gently as I could to change her mind because that’s my job. But while I was doing that, Slade appeared behind her and yelled at me to go away. When I asked Mrs Murphy another question, he stepped over the threshold and gave me a shove. But as he did so Elena snapped a photo of him and that was when it turned nasty.’

‘She had no right to take a picture of me,’ Slade said. ‘It was out of order.’

‘And I would have apologised to you if you’d given me a chance,’ Elena said, her voice small and unsteady. ‘I just acted on impulse and pressed the button.’

James was relieved that the altercation hadn’t been sparked by something far more serious. And at least the pair hadn’t physically harmed each other.

‘Look, can I suggest you both call it quits and put this unfortunate incident behind you?’ he said. ‘I’m here to talk to Mrs Murphy, so I’ll make sure she’s all right.’

‘I was about to leave anyway before these two arrived,’ Slade said. ‘I only popped over to check on Greg and Libby.’ He turned to Elena, adding, ‘If the camera’s damaged you can send me the repair bill. And I’m sorry if I was a bit rough. Like you, I acted on impulse.’