“How did you feel when Daisy’s father threw her out and she moved into Mill House?”

“I felt sorry for Daisy. Mr Bentham always made her do all the jobs around the house, and he even had her working on his business. That’s why she wouldn’t come away with me to work in London.”

“You had a job in London?”

“Yeah. For an insurance company. I’m good with computers. But Daisy wouldn’t leave her father and her sister. So we both stayed.”

Keya clarified, “So you stayed here and gave up your future career for Daisy?”

“Yeah. We said we’d always be together.”

Keya wondered at the simplicity of Ash’s love for Daisy. “So you must have felt let down and hurt when Daisy moved into Mill House.”

“I did, but I understood. She had nowhere else to go. And she could hardly move in with my mam, brother, and me. We’re cramped enough as it is.”

“But you thought it was only temporary?”

Ash pursed his lips together. “Yeah. But then Theo told me to stop calling round to visit Daisy. He said she didn’t want to see me, which I knew was a lie. Daisy wouldn’t do that.”

Keya wasn’t so sure. She could believe Theo wanting to put a stop to Ash’s visits, but he might have done so at Daisy’s request if she didn’t want to hurt Ash’s feelings. Whichever was correct, Ash was clearly on the wrong side of the love triangle.

“Did you ever threaten Daisy?”

“Don’t be daft,” Ash responded easily. “Why would I do that?”

“And Theo?”

Ash inclined his head.

“Have you ever threatened Theo Watson?”

“I might have done,” Ash muttered. “But I didn’t mean to.”

Keya didn’t believe him.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Keya didn’t find out anything else of use from Ash, who insisted he loved Daisy and would never harm her. However, it was clear that he wasn’t beyond violence where Theo Watson was concerned.

The interview was terminated when the young man came out of the side office and said, “Ashley. Your truck is full. You need to start your delivery round.”

Ash jumped up and was out of the door before Keya had a chance to thank him for his time. She did thank the young man for her tea before leaving the reception area.

Back to the station, she thought, after a rather unsatisfactory interview.

Her phone buzzed, and she checked her messages.

Ryan had sent one.

Please can you collect Theo Watson’s phone?

She could certainly try. Returning to her car, she drove to Mill House.

There was no answer when she rapped the black wheatsheaf knocker against the front door. But finding the door unlocked, she opened it slowly, calling, “Theo? It’s Sergeant Varma. Are you OK?”

There was no response, so she cautiously entered the property, praying she wouldn’t find another dead body.

But Theo was alive, if not well, curled up on a sofa in the living room. The curtains were still drawn, so Keya pulled them open, allowing weak sunlight to illuminate the room.

Theo was pale and wearing the same clothes as the previous day. Keya thought he’d probably slept on the sofa.

“Theo, I know you’re hurting, but you won’t be able to help Daisy, or help us find out what happened to her, in this state.”

Theo finally focused his eyes on Keya.

“Officer?”

“Sergeant Varma. But you can call me Keya.”

“Keya,” Theo repeated in a dream-like voice.

“Now what I want you to do is go upstairs and shower, and put on a clean set of clothes while I make you something to eat.”

Theo stared at her uncertainly.

“Upstairs,” she instructed more firmly.

Theo uncurled his legs and placed his bare feet on the Indian rug covering the floor. Hesitantly, he stood up muttering, “Shower,” before he wandered out of the room and up the stairs.

Keya checked her watch. It was a quarter past twelve. Nearly lunchtime.

She found eggs in an attractive pottery chicken on the sideboard, and ham, mushrooms, tomatoes, and cheese in the fridge. She’d make omelettes and use some of the mixed lettuce leaves and radishes also in the fridge to create a side salad. There were also attractive and fragrant pots of herbs on the windowsill above the double stainless-steel sink.

She was happily frying a second omelette when Theo appeared in the kitchen. He hadn’t shaved, but his hair was damp, and he was wearing a clean pair of jeans and a green T-shirt with a daisy on the front. On his bare feet were a pair of suede slippers.

“Grab yourself a knife and fork and sit down.” Keya placed his plate down on the table. The omelette was a deep yellow colour from what she presumed were free range eggs. “Help yourself to salad and I’ve found a range of condiments.”

Next to the salad, Keya had arranged containers of tomato ketchup, mayonnaise, a tall bottle with an orange label with ‘hot sauce’ printed on it, and a jar of homemade tomato chutney.

Keya finished cooking her omelette and slid it onto a plate. She sat down opposite Theo.

He picked up the hot sauce, studied it, and then placed it back on the table. “Daisy brought that out when she cooked Mexican dishes, although she only occasionally had any. But she pretended she liked it, as her mum made it. It’s good, but too spicy for today.” He reached for the tomato chutney.

“I might try some.” Keya poured a little of the hot sauce onto her plate. It was spicy, and it certainly gave her vegetable omelette a kick.

She and Theo sat in silence, as she wanted him to concentrate on his food and make sure he ate it before she started asking any questions.