As hard as it had been for Imogen growing up the way she did, with a bipolar single mother and no idea who her father was, it was no comparison to the pain Adrian obviously still carried with him after living with a violent addict as a father. She reminded herself to keep her mouth shut on things she knew nothing about in future.

DI Matt Walsh was waiting at her desk when she arrived at the station.

‘Problem?’ she said, unaccustomed to seeing him here like this and hoping this wasn’t something she would have to get used to on a daily basis.

‘The DCI wants us to go and see Reece Corrigan again. She thinks we might get different results. We called the Corrigan Construction HQ and they said he is on site. I’ve got the address.’

‘Different results? Why, because Adrian isn’t here? I am sure Corrigan will suddenly become incredibly cooperative for no apparent reason,’ Imogen said, resisting the urge to roll her eyes, hoping her tone was enough to convey how stupid she thought this idea was.

‘We can ask him about Thompson and maybe we can get a minute or two with his new bestie, Jimmy Chilton. Do you have a problem with this course of action?’ Walsh said.

‘I just do what I am told.’ She held her hands up as if to surrender. ‘I am sure the DCI has her reasons for sending us back there. Let me guess, you have to smooth things over with Corrigan because he has put in a complaint against Adrian or something.’

‘Not that I am aware of. He is still a suspect and your last visit didn’t exactly produce any results. Did it?’

‘You had to be there. It certainly cemented things in my mind.’

‘Well, this time I will be.’

At the construction site there was a tense silence, as though everyone had their heads down and was getting on with the job. Imogen had visited construction sites before and there was always a jokey comment or two being thrown around. But these men didn’t even look at Imogen or Walsh as they walked towards the three men huddled in the corner.

Reece Corrigan spotted them as they approached. At first, he looked annoyed. Then she was sure she could see a smile on his face as he glanced at Walsh. He obviously assumed that Adrian had been told to stay away.