“June suspected children died there, deaths that were never reported. And then of course the building was demolished, sold at a nice profit for the Catholic Church to a developer and any evidence of burial sites lost with it. Did she ever tell me what it was she was investigating? No, she never told me. Thought I was too young and innocent to hear about such depravity in our perfect little town. She gave me clues, though, clues I only realised after her death.” He lowered his head as if in shame. “I might have been able to help her if she’d only trusted me. Her notebook, though, everything she knew is in here.”

“What is it you had to tell me in person? What is it you found in her notes?”

The editor and Josephine exchanged a knowing look. “We’ve already told you that the minister and the laird are listed as paedophiles, two adults the children mentioned by name.”

“Yes, and DI Rankin, you mentioned him as well.” This was directed towards Josephine, who had remained silent since the editor had entered the room.

“DI Rankin was not mentioned as a predator. He was a regular visitor to the orphanage, but June found nobody who claimed he had abused them in any way – she specifically states this in her notes.”

“Why did you give me his name then?” Frankie found she was having to hold back her anger. “If I’d been able to reach my boss earlier and pass on what you told me over the phone, he would have accused Brian Rankin of being a bloody paedophile!”

Josephine held up a hand to stop her. “No, what June wrote in her notebook is that he’s suspected of covering up the murder of three children that we know died at the orphanage. Three children who were either beaten or starved to death, or never given medical treatment. Then she mentions five children whose deaths were never even officially reported. Your inspector, for whatever reason, prevented what was going on at the orphanage from ever coming out. He’s as guilty as those who abused the children, more so!”

Frankie sat quietly, trying to imagine the quiet old inspector having any involvement in the events Josephine described. “It doesn’t sound like the Brian Rankin I know.” Her voice came quietly, doubtful. “Why would he even do such a thing? It makes no sense.” She said the last words emphatically, deciding whatever was written in the reporter’s notebook wasn’t necessarily the truth.

“He did it because not only the sheriff was involved, but someone else who carried a lot more clout.

“Who?” Frankie asked. “Who can possibly be so important that you can’t even mention his name over the phone?”

The editor looked steadily into her eyes, weighing how much she could be trusted. She passed whatever test he set. “Lord Lagan,” he said softly.

Frankie stared at him is disbelief. “Jesus!”