Page 54 of Murder in the Family

Yes, clearly she could have done that, but digital forensics would have been able to retrieve them. It’s got a lot more sophisticated since then, but they’d still have found a deleted text, even in 2003.

JJ NORTON

And no WhatsApp or Snapchat back then, of course. Just saying.

MITCHELL CLARKE

There is one obvious explanation.

(The team look at him.)

JJ NORTON

Go on.

MITCHELL CLARKE

This man wasatthe party.

LAILA FURNESS

So – what are you saying? They speak at the do, arrange to meet back at the house and he goes on ahead of her? That’s pretty risky on her part, isn’t it? Knowing Luke’s there?

JJ NORTON

(goes over to the site plan and points)

But there’s the apartment here, right? The one over the workshop, where Caroline lived when she was the au pair? Maybe they arranged to meet there?

LAILA FURNESS

But that was Maura’s room by then.

JJ NORTON

Yes, but Maura was at the cinema that night, wasn’t she – Caroline had dropped her off herself. The coast would have been clear. Or at least she’d have thought so.

MITCHELL CLARKE

(nodding)

Only they’re not careful enough. Luke sees something – maybe lights going on. He goes over to investigate and all hell breaks loose.

LAILA FURNESS

That scenario would make Caroline much more complicit, though. If that’s what really happened, she was there throughout.

MITCHELL CLARKE

(grimly)

And then promptly scarpered, leaving her teenage daughter to find that horror show.

JJ NORTON

(going back to the table and picking up the paperwork)

Do we know exactly who was at that drinks party she went to?

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