‘I swear I didn’t kill her. It was an accident,’ Lee said.

‘Is your wife upstairs?’ Stanley asked.

‘I’m single,’ he said.

They took him through to the living room and made him sit in an armchair. Stanley said he wanted a word with Jane and Boon and they all went into the hallway.

‘It’s better you interview him here, Jane, if he’s willing to talk, which it appears he is. If we take him back to the station and he requests a solicitor, we could end up with a no-comment interview. Boony, make sure you write every question and answer in your pocketbook. Get him to sign every page if he confesses. I’ll tell the uniformed officers they can go. I’ll search the house.’

Jane and Boon returned to the living room.

‘Would you like a drink, Lee?’ Jane asked him.

‘Could I have a glass of water, please?’ he sniffed.

Boon went to the kitchen and got Lee a glass of water.

‘We need to keep you here while we search the house. Are you willing to answer some questions without a solicitor?’

‘OK. Can I have a tissue, please. There’s some in a box over there.’

Boon handed him the box and Jane said it was OK to undo the handcuffs as she wanted him to be more at ease. She doubted he’d try and escape as he’d be no match for Boon. Lee blew his nose and wiped the tears from his eyes.

‘I’d like you to tell me what happened to Becky and who else was involved in her death,’ Jane said.

‘It was only me. Tom had nothing to do with it.’

‘I take it Tom is Thomas Durham?’

‘That’s right.’

‘Were you at Tom’s house on Tuesday afternoon?’

‘Yes. I was fixing the wall in his wine cellar.’

‘Where was Tom?’

‘He got fed up with the banging as I knocked some of the bricks out. He said he was going to Nick’s house for some peace and quiet and took Bella with him.’

‘Is that the truth or are you just trying to protect Tom?’

‘I swear it’s the truth.’

‘Tell me about Becky Rogers.’

‘I was in the kitchen making a coffee when I heard a knock at the door. I opened it and this young girl was there. I said, “Can I help you?” and she just walked in. I didn’t have clue who she was. At first, I thought she might be the daughter of one of the residents and wanted to speak with Tom. I asked her who she was. She said she was a reporter, her name was Becky and she’d like to speak to me about the sale of the convent and the coffin that was found on the building site.’