'Now listen,' Donaldson said, refusing the offer, 'I've already taken the advice of several very senior lawyers, who assure me that this is completely irregular.'
'It's unusual, certainly,' Jenny said calmly, 'but from what I've seen so far I'm not satisfied the police have investigated the circumstances of your daughter's death to an extent that I consider satisfactory.'
'The man confessed. What the hell are you expecting to find?'
'Please, do sit down.'
'Do you have any idea what it's like waiting nearly two months to bury your child?'
'No. I'm sorry.'
'Well try, Mrs Cooper. You might begin to understand why if you don't release her immediately I'll be lodging a formal complaint.'
Jenny managed to remain impassive in the face of his anger. 'I'm requesting one further post-mortem examination - it could happen as early as this afternoon. If nothing significant arises I will release your daughter's body at once.'
'The cause of death was established beyond all doubt. There was no dispute about it whatsoever.'
'From a forensic perspective all we know for certain is that she was killed by a single stab wound. I'd like to know a little more - whether there is any trace of third-party DNA, whether there are physical signs of a struggle, whether there is any possibility that the wound was self-inflicted.'
'That's absurd. Her killer is behind bars. I'm told that it's virtually unheard of for a coroner to continue fishing for evidence at this stage.'
'With respect, Mr Donaldson, many coroners do as little as they can get away with. I prefer to cover every possibility.'
'No matter how futile or traumatic to the family?'
'Wouldn't you like to think no stone had been left unturned?'
Donaldson placed his fingers to his temples, a look of pain contorting his face. He sank into the chair, fury giving way to exasperation.
'I went through all this with the police. Of course you'd think there are potentially thousands of men who might have preyed on her, but there was simply no evidence for it. Since she'd become synonymous with the Decency campaign all that sort of unwanted attention had petered out.'
'But before that she was harassed?'
'I couldn't say how bad it was. Eva didn't communicate very much once she'd embarked on her . . .' He faltered. 'Since she left home. The detectives just assumed that would be the case.'
'Do you mind if I ask you a couple of questions?'
He shook his head.
'Do you have any idea what Eva was planning to do with her life after the Decency campaign? Did she have any long- term plans?'
He thought for a moment. 'I really couldn't say. I assume she may have harboured a maternal instinct somewhere.'
'Do you have any insight into her mental state in the months before she died? I know she had money problems—'
'I'm afraid we didn't often talk.' He glanced away guiltily. 'She lost her mother when she was fourteen. I'm afraid I never succeeded in filling the gap my late wife left.'
'That must have been a source of sadness to you.'
His expression turned to one of mistrust. 'If you're angling for some profound psychological insight, I'm afraid I can't give you one. She had a perfectly happy childhood. She went to excellent schools and even seemed to weather her mother's death far better than I could have hoped for, but the moment she went to college she became completely wild. What more can I say?'
Quietly, Jenny said, 'I think you know what I'm asking.'
'She didn't kill herself, Mrs Cooper,' Donaldson said sharply. 'God knows, nothing would have surprised me, but if she had the knife would have still been at the scene.'
'There are other scenarios. Craven could have entered the house and found her already dead.'
Donaldson's gaze travelled around her untidy office as he seemed to be weighing her motives. 'I don't suppose a woman in your position has many opportunities to step into the limelight. I presume it's a case of grabbing it when you can.'
'Believe me, Mr Donaldson, this isn't for my benefit.'
He fixed Jenny with a look that was more knowing than accusing. 'I'm afraid I don't believe you. You could make a formal finding of unlawful killing today. But you won't because you want a piece of the action. She's too hot a property for you simply to let her go. And you know what that makes you? No better than those parasites who made their filthy fortunes from her. Why can't you let her rest in peace, for God's sake?