‘While that’s going down, Abbott and I will have another go at Carlo Salvi before we descend on Ethan and Claire Prescott’s house in Bowness with a warrant,’ he said.

DC Isaac confirmed that she had spoken the previous evening to both Mark Slade and Belinda Travers.

‘They’re sticking to their stories,’ she said, ‘and Travers is furious that he’s telling everyone that it was her who behaved inappropriately with him. She’s now seriously considering making an official complaint.’

‘Did you mention that to Slade?’ James asked.

‘I did, and he said she was bluffing. But I got the impression that the thought of it made him nervous.’

‘Have we come up with anything else on the guy?’

Isaac shook her head. ‘Nothing that we don’t already know, sir. Unfortunately for us, if he did meet up with Rachel on the jetty then we’re not going to know unless a witness suddenly turns up. There’s no forensic evidence so far to show he was there.’

It was over to Abbott then to pass on some more disappointing news.

‘Digital analysis of Ethan Prescott’s phone and laptop has come up with sod all, guv,’ she said. ‘There’s nothing on them to suggest that he’s back in a relationship with his old flame, Libby.’

‘That doesn’t mean we won’t find something when we go through his home and belongings,’ James said, knowing that his voice conveyed very little optimism. ‘I think he was a bit too willing to give us his phone and computer. He knew there was nothing incriminating on them. There’s always the chance that if he is our killer, we’ll find a speck of Rachel’s blood on his clothes or shoes, so let’s make sure we get to examine what he was wearing at the wedding.’

At ten thirty James called time on the briefing and he and Abbott went to conduct a second interview with Carlo Salvi.

A night banged up in a cell hadn’t done the Italian Lothario any favours. His face looked as though the blood had been sucked out of it, his eyes dull and ringed with fatigue, and he was wearing a sweatshirt and tracksuit bottoms provided by the custody team. Forensics would be examining his clothes and shoes, as well as swabs from his hands and face.

As the two detectives took their seats, he stared at them with undisguised hostility.

Meanwhile, Clive Edgar, the duty solicitor, sat next to him looking as dapper as ever.

‘I trust you had a comfortable night?’ James said to Salvi, who just pulled a face.

Abbott switched on the tape and announced who was present in the room and why the interview was taking place.

Before any questions were asked the solicitor made it clear that his client was continuing to insist that he did not kill his girlfriend on New Year’s Eve.

‘Mr Salvi has now been held in custody for almost seventeen hours,’ he said, ‘and if you’ve been unable to come up with evidence that will justify continuing to hold him, then I insist that he be allowed to leave so that he can return to his family in Italy.’