Carver harrumphed and went on. “We know things didn’t turn out that way. And, I might add, the police at the time strongly suspected that Albert Kerrigan used money acquired through the sale of illegal drugs in the house purchase.”

“Let me guess,” said Annie. “They couldn’t prove it.”

“That’s right. Kerrigan claimed he’d sold a painting to get the money, but I couldn’t imagine anyone paying six grand for the rubbish he turned out.”

“And you’re an art expert, too,” said Annie. “Wonders never cease.”

Carver went red.

“Shut it, DI Cabbot,” said Banks.

Carver cast her the evil eye and went on. “I was only a constable on the beat back then, patrol cars, but I had plenty of firsthand experience of the various Kerrigans and Moffats over the years. Sinead Kerrigan married Leslie Moffat in the late nineties, and Mimosa and Albert were born around the millennium, just three years apart. Les Moffat was a small-time crook. A bit of housebreaking, the occasional mugging after dark in Middlesbrough town center. He could be violent when he wanted to, and he buggered off when the kids were still little. That was around the time Albert Kerrigan died of a brain tumor. Only in his fifties. I blame the drugs.”

“And his wife?” Banks asked.

“Maureen? Drifted off with some Travellers. Never been seen since.”

“Which leaves Sinead, Lenny, Johnny and the kids,” said Banks. “Were any of the children ever fostered out or taken into care?”

“No,” said Carver. “They always managed to avoid that fate. God knows how.”

“What about Sinead’s brother?” Banks asked. “I heard he’s a bit . . .” He glanced at Annie.

“Doolally,” she said.

“Johnny’s five years older than Sinead,” said Carver. “He rode with a local biker gang involved in drugs and all kinds of nastiness until he smashed up his bike on the A19 one rainy day. Never been the same since. Just sits in his chair. Which suits us fine.”

“What happened after Les Moffat left?” Banks asked.

“Mama Sinead is left behind looking after the whole family. After Moffat, there was a string of men, bad choices for the most part, junkies, criminals and unemployed layabouts all. That’s when she developed her drug habit, and she wasn’t averse to a bit of soliciting to support it. Then Lenny Thornton came on the scene in 2009, and she soon had two kids by him. We’ve had our run-ins with Lenny. He’s settled down these days, but he specialized in car theft after a childhood of joyriding. Then when the security locks got too complicated for his tiny brain, he moved on to fencing stolen goods. But he wasn’t very good at it. After a short stretch inside, he seemed to go straight. We’ve had nothing on him for two or three years now. And that, my dear friends, is the Moffats of Southam Terrace. And when you start feeling all warm and tingly inside about Sinead Moffat getting her act together, doing the methadone cure, think again. She may well be trying to kick her heroin habit at the moment, but don’t let that fool you. Judging by all previous attempts, she’ll be back on it in no time, and turning tricks, if any man in his right mind will pay her for it.”