He could have sworn she flinched when he asked the question. ‘Alexander and I couldn’t have any more children. Not since I, uh … we lost a child. A few years before all of this happened. A son. A few weeks before he was due to be born. There were complications, and I, uh … No. No other brothers or sisters. As for Gavin, he’s not mentioned it to me if she has been in touch, but you’d have to ask him.’

‘What about friends from school or other family members? Is there anyone that she was close to who might help us get in touch with her?’

‘Not that I know of, but like I said, we weren’t exactly close.’

She was edging closer to the door leading to the hallway as she spoke. They took the hint and thanked her for her time. Styles asked her for the best way to reach her son, and jotted down the address and phone number she gave him for Gavin. They retraced their steps to the front door and Porter pulled a business card from his wallet.

‘Just in case you think of anything else after we leave,’ he said, handing it to her.

Porter and Styles didn’t speak again until they were back in their car.

‘What did you make of that, then?’ Styles asked his partner.

‘I’ve seen a few people brick it when a copper turns up on their doorstep, but she looked like she was expecting us to slap the cuffs on her.’

‘Crimes against fashion?’ asked Styles, arching one eyebrow.

‘Her outfit probably cost the same as a full term at private school.’

‘Doesn’t mean it looks good.’

Porter tilted his head in agreement. ‘Let’s see if the brother is around to speak to, and I want to take a look at the file on the father’s suicide as well. You thinking what I’m thinking?’

‘Do you mean could the hurt he caused his family be actual harm, and he topped himself out of remorse?’

Porter nodded grimly. ‘Wouldn’t be the strangest thing ever, and for his suicide to happen in the same week that she was last sighted, that’s a fair sized coincidence, don’t you think?’

Styles nodded. ‘You think she knows more than she’s saying?’ he said, nodding towards the house.

‘I think there’s more she could have said but didn’t,’ said Porter. ‘Whether whatever she’s keeping back is relevant to wherever Natasha is or whether it’s just cos it’s events she’d rather forget, I don’t know. Did you see her when she said the part about him being a “good man”?’

‘No, I must have been writing something down then. Why?’