“Lucy and I ran into Guildford for some shopping. She’s studying for her A levels, you see, and needed a book from Waterstones in the shopping center. We poked about a bit in the shops, then walked up the High to Sainsbury’s.” Claire stopped as Lucy stirred beside her, then she looked at Deveney and frowned. “Where’s Darling?”

Gemma and Kincaid glanced at each other, Kincaid raising a questioning eyebrow. Deveney leaned over and whispered, “The constable who was with them. His name is Darling.” Turning to Claire, he said, “He’s still here, Mrs. Gilbert. He’s just gone to give the other lads a hand for a bit.”

Tears filled Claire’s eyes and began to run down the sides of her nose, but she made no move to wipe them away.

“After you’d finished your shopping, Mrs. Gilbert,” Kincaid prompted after a moment, “what did you do then?”

She seemed to focus on him with an effort. “After? We drove home.”

Kincaid thought of the quiet lane where they had left their car. “Did anyone see you? A neighbor, perhaps?”

Claire shook her head. “I don’t know.”.

While they talked, Gemma had unobtrusively pulled her notebook and pen from her bag. Now she said softly, “What time was this, Mrs. Gilbert?”

“Half past seven. Maybe later. I’m not quite sure.” She looked from Gemma to Kincaid, as if for reassurance, then spoke a little more forcefully. “We weren’t expecting Alastair. He had a meeting. Lucy and I had bought some pasta and ready-made sauce at Sainsbury’s. A bit of a treat, just for the two of us.”