Imogen and DI Walsh drove mostly in silence. She missed the banter she had with Adrian. Walsh didn’t really speak much when it wasn’t work-related. She didn’t even know if he owned a TV; he was a very strange and secretive man.

The fact that, so far, they had not found a single person who would come forward and speak against Reece Corrigan was exasperating. Nor had they found any incriminating evidence against either him or his company. No one had anything good to say about him, but no one claimed to have anything but rumours or suspicions, either. What hold did he have over those people? How could any one man have so much power? There was only one person left to appeal to: Angela Corrigan. They knew where Reece was and so, with any luck, she would be at home alone. Maybe Imogen could get her to talk.

When they pulled into the driveway of the Corrigan house, the white Lexus was parked outside.

Imogen turned to Walsh. ‘I’d like to speak to her alone, if that’s OK? As a woman, maybe I can appeal to her in the way a man can’t.’

‘You want me to wait in the car?’

‘If you don’t mind.’

‘Would you ask DS Miles to wait in the car, out of interest?’ Walsh asked.

‘This really isn’t personal and it isn’t about you. I think I have a better shot of talking to this woman alone and getting somewhere. That’s all. For what it’s worth, I actually think DS Miles would be asking me to wait in the car. And I would do it, because I trust his judgement as a police officer. I don’t have a problem with you, Matt. I hope I haven’t given you that impression.’

‘OK, DS Grey. I will take your word for it.’

Imogen got out of the car; she couldn’t be bothered to talk it through with Walsh anymore. The fact was, she didn’t think bombarding Angela with questions from all sides would work. If she was honest, she was actually doing this because she thought it was what Adrian might do. Whatever she thought of Angela, she was a victim. It wasn’t as though Imogen didn’t see her that way, but she just couldn’t understand why she would stay with a man who treated her so appallingly.

There again, Imogen also had to admit that you never know how you would react to a situation until you are in it. She couldn’t know for sure she wouldn’t do exactly the same thing. The people they had interviewed about Reece Corrigan were terrified of him. Imogen reminded herself that Angela had tried to get away and almost died because of it. Of course she was too scared to try again.

Imogen knocked on the door.

‘Detective.’