‘Andrew Dean is killed, and then Tony Gardner. Both are blinded with acid, most likely to make them vulnerable, and then murdered. Both men went to a holiday cottage with Jez Weston and Abs three years ago, and were questioned about a girl who went missing. Then familial DNA, suggesting a female relative of Jeremy Weston, turns up at Tony Gardner’s home.’ Ajay looked around the room. ‘What does it mean?’

‘We know zilch about Jez’s background other than he spent much of his childhood in foster care with Abs,’ said Craig.

‘Then it’s time we found out.’ Sasha thought about the tense conversation at Jez and Bethany’s house. ‘Lols, you remember yesterday when Jez told Abs he was the only family he’d got? Abs looked a bit taken aback.’

‘Yeah,’ agreed Lolly. ‘He did.’

Craig leaned forward in his chair. ‘Should we talk to Jez Weston?’

‘No.’ Sasha tapped the spoon, which was still warm from the hot coffee, against her cheek. ‘If he thinks his sibling is worth keeping a secret, let’s hold back.’ She flicked through her notebook for a number, plucked the phone from its cradle and lifted a finger to encourage everyone to remain quiet as she made a call.

A moment later, the phone was answered.

‘Hello, Abs, it’s DI Dawson.’ She pressed the speaker button, then placed the receiver down so everyone could hear. ‘How are you today?’

‘Yeah, I’m good.’ He didn’t sound too good, he sounded fed up, but – typical Abs – he quickly recovered his poise. ‘You’ve got a great phone voice – husky, low.’

‘Thank you,’ Sasha said. ‘It must be all those Rothmans.’

‘What’s happened?’ he asked quickly.

‘The investigation is ongoing,’ Sasha told him blandly. ‘And, of course, we will keep you informed as soon as we have any new information.’

‘Great.’ Abs hesitated. ‘Then why are you phoning?’

‘We’re just trying to clear up some background details. Do you have any brothers or sisters, Abs?’ she asked.

‘Me?’ She heard the confusion in his voice. ‘No, why?’

‘And what about Jez?’ she asked lightly. ‘Does he have any siblings?’

‘Siblings?’

‘Brothers or sisters,’ said Sasha.

‘Why ain’t you asking him this?’

‘I will be, but I thought I’d ask you while we were on the phone.’

She looked at her team as they all waited tensely for Abs to answer. ‘He has a sister, but he ain’t seen her in years.’

Sasha pointed a finger at Craig – Bingo! – and he spun his chair round to tap at his computer. ‘What’s her name, Abs?’ she asked casually.

‘Lauren.’

‘Oh,’ said Sasha, as if the thought had only just occurred to her. ‘It’s just that when Jez called you his family yesterday, you looked surprised.’

‘I was, yeah,’ said Abs. ‘He never mentions her, really.’

‘Older or younger, Abs?’

‘She’s a year older than him, something like that.’