Boon followed Lloyd and Thomas down to the crypt.

‘Nothing upstairs so far, sarge,’ he said.

‘Well, there’s a surprise,’ Durham scoffed.

‘The dog has tracked Becky Rogers’ scent down into the crypt. It ends at the bottom of the stairs,’ Jane told Durham.

‘Did Rumpole tell you that?’ he mocked.

‘He also reacted in a manner that suggests a cleaning agent was used just there.’ Jane pointed to the spot.

‘This is bloody ridiculous. I have a cleaner who comes here twice a week. She uses bleach to clean the stone floors.’

‘What, even in the crypt?’ Boon asked.

‘She’s very fastidious. Speak to her if you don’t believe me,’ Durham replied.

While Lloyd examined the stairs and hand rope, Jane went to look in the wine cellar area. She immediately noticed the wall blocking the tunnel had been repaired with some new bricks in the middle. Jane recalled Nick telling his father the wall needed fixing.

‘I see you’ve had the wall repaired,’ Jane remarked.

Thomas laughed out loud. ‘Please don’t tell me you think a body might be behind the wall.’

‘Boony, nip out to the equipment van and see if they have any sledgehammers and pickaxes,’ Jane said.

Thomas’s eyes bulged and his face turned red with anger. ‘That’s it! I’ve had enough of this nonsense! I’m not having you destroying my house! I’m calling my solicitor now!’ He stomped off towards the stairs.

‘Come back here now, please, Mr Durham,’ Boon shouted.

He went after Durham and grabbed him by the shoulder. Durham spun round and punched Boon hard in the face, knocking him to the ground. Boon winced in pain as he landed hard on his coccyx.

Durham realised what he’d done. ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that. I wasn’t thinking straight.’ He put his hand out to help Boon up.

‘You fuckin’ arsehole!’ Boon exclaimed, knocking Durham’s hand away.

Durham stood upright, his face turning blue as he struggled to breathe.

‘Oh God, please help me,’ he pleaded, clutching his chest as his face contorted with pain.

Boon was struggling to get up. He could only watch as Durham staggered backwards, fighting to breathe. As Thomas fell, Lloyd managed to catch him and lay him gently on the floor.

‘He’s having a heart attack. Keep an eye on him, Jane, and I’ll call an ambulance,’ Lloyd said.

She shook her head. ‘That’ll take too long. Get some of the uniformed officers to take him to the hospital in the police van.’

As Lloyd ran up the stairs, Durham’s breathing was getting shallower, and his eyes began to close.

Boon knelt beside him. ‘Where’s Becky?’

‘He’s unconscious. We need to try and resuscitate him,’ Jane said, pinching Durham’s nose and putting her mouth over his.