‘I’m not surprised you need that drink,’ she said, nodding towards his third gulp of whisky. ‘This sounds like one convoluted investigation. I really wouldn’t like to be in your shoes.’

It was eleven o’clock by the time they finished talking about it and they were both ready for bed, but that was when James realised that he hadn’t mentioned his conversation with DCI Tanner.

‘Actually, there was one bright spot in the day,’ he said. ‘The boss is leaving and he wants me to take over from him.’

He told her what Tanner had said and she was delighted, as he knew she would be.

‘It will certainly ease the pressure on our finances after my maternity leave ends,’ she said.

They spoke about it for a few minutes and he explained what the role would entail.

‘It won’t actually be very different from what I do now,’ he said.

‘Well, if Tanner is recommending you for the position, you’re bound to get it,’ Annie said encouragingly.

Though exhausted, it took James hours to get to sleep, and when the darkness finally consumed him, he found himself standing over Rachel Elliott’s battered body.

Even though her lips weren’t moving, he could hear her voice as she pleaded with him to find The Winter Killer for the sake of her friends and family.

CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

Once again, James was up and dressed the following morning before his wife and daughter were awake. Annie didn’t stir until he gave her a gentle nudge.

‘You asked me to let you know when I’m about to leave,’ he said. ‘Do you want me to make you a brew?’

‘No, don’t worry. I’m going to hop in the shower before our little munchkin demands my attention. What time is it?’

‘Half seven. I’m driving down to Lancaster Infirmary in the hope I can speak to Douglas Hannigan before going to the office.’

‘Well, best of luck with that, and with the rest of it. You’ll be in my thoughts.’

It was a twenty-minute drive from Kirkby Abbey to Lancaster and soon after setting off James received a phone call from DS Stevens in response to a text message he’d sent him earlier.

‘I just spoke to the hospital and Hannigan is awake and willing to talk to us,’ Stevens said. ‘I’ve already left home so I’ll meet you there.’

By the time James got to the hospital he’d worked out an action plan for the day ahead: he would execute the search warrants against both Hannigan and Ethan Prescott; he would haul Carlo Salvi in for another interview under caution; and he’d get the team to go through all the statements taken from wedding guests and hotel staff. He wanted to be sure that they hadn’t missed anything.

The murder still featured on the radio news and James was surprised to hear a clip of an interview with Greg Murphy.

‘We’re still struggling to accept that Rachel is no longer with us,’ he said. ‘She was such a lovely person who was dear to all our hearts. Mere words can’t adequately describe the pain her family is suffering, and that pain is compounded by the fact that she was killed at the wedding of her sister and myself. I know the police are doing all they can to find the person responsible, but if anyone listening has information that might be of help then please, please come forward with it.’