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in.”
    “Bring your X-ray specs did you?”
    “Didn’t need to, I saw the curtain move upstairs.”
    They both knew that wasn’t a good sign. Although the autopsy results hadn’t come back yet the assumption was suicide. Technically speaking this wasn’t a case for Major Crime, but resources were stretched. The fact the family didn’t want to speak to them suggested there might be more to the death than it first appeared. Arbogast sighed and wished for an easy life.
     
    Lorna panicked, “It’s the Police. The security guard at the supermarket must have filed a complaint,” She’d assumed that when Gary had gone to ground he’d have had the good sense to keep the incident to himself. “The bastard shopped us.”
    Leona looked worried, “What happened back there? You haven’t told me.”
    “I did what I had to do to get away – but if they’ve reported us then they must have evidence.”
    “But you said the cameras couldn’t see us between the pillars.”
    Lorna was pacing the bedroom, trying to think of a way out, but there was nothing to be done. They’d been caught. Shit, shit, shit. Looking round she caught the look on her daughter’s face for the first time. She was terrified.
    “Don’t worry pet, this will be OK. We didn’t take anything. They won’t have anything on us.”
    Leona held back the curtain, she was hoping the men might have gone away, but they were still there – the taller of the two looked up. Leona stepped back quickly.
    “I think they saw me.”
    “Get back from the window.”
     
    Outside, Arbogast crouched down and lifted the metal flap on the letter box.
    “Mrs McMahon, if you’re in there, and I saw you upstairs so let’s assume you are, I would ask that you come down and speak to us. It’s about your husband.”
    “He says it’s about dad, maybe we’ll be OK?”
    The relief Lorna felt at that moment was immense. She hadn’t realised it but she’d been holding her breath. She exhaled, feeling dizzy, certain that her worst fears hadn’t been realised. They’d got away with it after all. Now what’s Horace been up to? He’s going to get a piece of my mind if he’s been arrested. She took her daughter’s hand and led her down the stairs.
    “Let’s see what they want.”
     
    The detectives stepped back and waited. There was a murmur of voices from inside, then footsteps down the stairs. Finally the door opened.
    “Mrs McMahon?”
    “Yes, sorry to keep you waiting. Just some family stuff I needed to speak to my daughter about.”
    Arbogast nodded. He didn’t want to pry. He just wanted to deliver the message then leave. He always seemed to end up getting these death knock jobs.
    “Can we come in Mrs McMahon? I need to speak to you in private.”
    Lorna sensed something wasn’t right. Her momentary relief had been replaced by a feeling of freefall. She sensed something bad was coming and that it might be close to home.
    “Is Horace in trouble?”
    “No, it’s not that.” Arbogast and Guthrie followed the McMahons into the living room. There wasn’t much furniture. A tatty three-seater settee and a couple of folding chairs stacked against the far wall. He noticed there wasn’t a TV; there wasn’t much of anything in the room. Lorna brought the occasional chairs over and offered them up. Arbogast insisted Lorna sit down first.
    “Tell me what’s wrong.” There was urgency about Lorna’s voice. She sat wringing her hands, her legs had been pulled in tight around the curve of the chair; she was hunched up as if waiting for impact.
    “There’s no easy way to say this. I’m afraid that your husband has been found dead.” Lorna was shaking her head; this wasn’t what she wanted to hear. Arbogast realised that the girl, Leona had grasped the situation first – she put her arm round her mother and was saying it would be OK. Arbogast had seen it before. It was denial. The girl was coping the only way she knew how, by helping her mum, but the shock