‘You think she’s home?’ Laura asked, as they pulled up at the mid-terrace property.

Kate looked at the overgrown lawn beneath the windows, which were covered by mildew. ‘How would you know?’

Having briefed the team on Petr Nowakowski, Kate had chosen to bring Laura with her for support. It was hard enough breaking the news that a relative had died, but they needed to ask Nowakowski’s sister, Ana, some questions about her brother’s recent activities too.

Laura was first out of the car, darting to the door and ringing the bell, relieved to get out of the rain and under the porch cover. She was just turning to shrug at Kate in the car when the front door opened and a large woman in a pink tabard appeared. Kate watched as Laura and the woman spoke, before the door was closed and Laura hurried back to the car.

‘I take it that wasn’t Ana?’ Kate asked when Laura was back inside.

‘No. That woman owns the house, and Ana rents a room from her. The woman said Ana’s at work, in the Sainsbury’s in Portswood, just up the road.’

Kate took another look at the rundown property, before starting the engine and completing a U-turn.

---

‘Oh, I see,’ said the store manager, the blood draining from his face as they informed him why they wished to speak to Ana Nowakowski somewhere private.

‘Y-y-you must take my office,’ he offered.

‘That’s very kind,’ Kate said with an appreciative nod. ‘Would you mind bringing Ana in here? It would be more discreet if you collect her from the floor than us.’

He stood and made his way to the closed door. ‘Of course, of course, don’t want to set tongues wagging.’

Kate waited until he’d left before closing the door. ‘I’ll break the news to her, but I want you to watch her reactions as I do. Is she shocked, or does she already know; that kind of thing. Okay?’

Laura nodded, taking the store manager’s chair, allowing Kate to sit next to the remaining vacant chair where Ana would sit.

A knock at the door a moment later was followed by a frightened looking young woman entering. Ana Nowakowski couldn’t have been much older than twenty-five, a slight, gaunt frame with dark blonde, greasy hair pinned back in a ponytail. With no makeup, the skin on her face was smooth, but the supermarket uniform hung from her body.

‘Is everything okay?’ she asked, clearly sensing they were police.

‘Please take a seat, Miss Nowakowski,’ Kate encouraged.

Ana looked back at her store manager, terror in her eyes. ‘Have I done something wrong?’

He rubbed her arm. ‘No, Ana, it’s nothing like that. These detectives just need to ask you a few questions.’ He looked over to Kate. ‘I’ll make myself scarce,’ he said, closing the door behind him.

Ana stared at the door, as if trying to determine whether she should run. Was it the reaction of someone with a guilty conscience or someone with too many brushes with the law? ‘What sort of questions?’ she finally asked, looking back at Kate.

‘It’s about your brother,’ Kate said, patting the cushion of the vacant chair. ‘Please take a seat.’

‘Petr? Is he in trouble again?’

‘What makes you think that?’

Ana perched on the seat, ready to bolt for the door at the first sign of trouble. ‘Why else would you be asking about him? Once a criminal, always a criminal: that’s what you people think, isn’t it?’

‘Actually, that isn’t a view I subscribe to, despite the common level of reoffending we witness in this country.’

‘What’s he done this time, then?’

‘When was the last time you saw your brother, Miss Nowakowski?’

A dimple formed in her chin as she considered the question. ‘Two weeks ago? He was due to sail the Thursday before last and we went out for dinner the night before. If you’re looking for him, he isn’t due to dock until Thursday morning.’

Kate reached out and took the young woman’s hands in her own, surprised by how cold they felt, but forcing eye contact. ‘I wish there was an easier way for me to say this, Miss Nowakowski, but your brother Petr has passed away. I’m so sorry.’

Ana’s expression remained blank.

‘Miss Nowakowski? I really am sorry for your loss,’ Kate persevered.

Ana pulled her hands away and stood, but couldn’t move away from the chair. ‘There must be some mistake. Petr is away with work… how… he can’t…’

Kate rose to join her. ‘I appreciate this isn’t easy for you to hear.’

Ana’s eyes registered her confusion. ‘It’s not possible. You must have the wrong person. Petr Nowakowski? My brother? He isn’t dead.’

‘I’m sorry, Miss Nowakowski, but we’ve confirmed it through a DNA match. There’s no doubt.’

A single tear escaped down Ana’s cheek, halting at the edge of her top lip, before continuing down her chin. ‘I don’t understand. How…?’

Kate took Ana’s arm and lowered her back into the chair. ‘We’re still investigating exactly what happened, but we have reason to believe that his death occurred under mysterious circumstances. You’ve said several times that you believed he was away somewhere. Can you explain where?’

Ana continued to blink, her vision focused on the wall beyond Kate. ‘He was a sous chef on board a cruise ship… they set sail on Thursday for two weeks. Did he die on the ship?’

‘We really don’t have any more information we can share at this point.’

‘Can I see him?’

It was the question Kate had been dreading. Having discussed Ben’s findings with the supe before leaving the station, they’d decided it was best not to mention the circumstances under which they had arrived at the news themselves. ‘We don’t require you to formally identify your brother, Miss Nowakowski, as the DNA test has already confirmed it.’

‘But for me, I’d like to be able to say goodbye.’

‘I will see if that’s possible at some point in the future, but right now I want to concentrate on finding out exactly what happened to your brother and how he came to die.’

Ana frowned. ‘I don’t understand… are you saying he was… murdered?’

‘We don’t know for sure, but it’s an avenue of enquiry we’re following. I appreciate this isn’t easy for you, but I’d like to ask you some questions about your brother if you’re happy for me to do so?’

‘If you think it will help.’

‘Thank you,’ Kate said. ‘If there is anything you don’t feel comfortable answering at the moment, just say, and I’ll move on. Okay?’

As Ana nodded, a second tear ran down her cheek.

‘When you last saw your brother, how did he seem within himself?’

‘He was… fine. He was telling me how this next cruise would pay well, and that when he was back we would look to see if we had enough deposit to get a place of our own to rent.’

‘He didn’t live with you, then?’

‘After his release from prison he stayed in a halfway house, but then he got the job with the cruise company and spent a lot of time on the sea. But I think he was growing bored with the job. He was really keen to lay some roots, I think.’

‘You were close, then?’

‘He’s my only family. After our parents died, he looked after me.’

‘How long ago did they pass away?’

‘Twenty years ago this year.’

‘So, you would have been—’

‘I was five and Petr was eight. We went from one foster family to another, but he was always there, watching out for me, making sure nobody took advantage, and ensuring I always ate. I owe him my life.’

‘He sounds like a great brother to have.’

‘He was, and apart from that stupid robbery, we never fell out.’

‘Do you know if he had any contact with the gang after his release from prison?’

‘Are you kidding? He wanted nothing to do with them. He knew he never should have agreed to help that day, but he was desperate for money and it seemed so easy. He regretted that decision every day. So, when he was released from prison he swore he would never allow himself to get into that situation again.’

‘Did your brother have any enemies that you know of, or had he received any threats he told you about?’

‘No. None. That gang he helped put away swore they would get revenge, but he… oh God, is that what happened? Did they get to him?’

‘We’re investigating all possibilities at this time. So far there is nothing to directly implicate any of his old crew in what happened. But we will look into the possibility.’ Kate paused, keen to avoid saying too much. ‘Can I ask you to write down your brother’s address, and the name of the cruise liner he worked for?’

Ana nodded, and took the pad of paper and pen that Laura offered.

‘Is there anyone else you’d like us to inform?’ Kate asked when Ana had finished.

‘No, it was just the two of us. Will you let me know when I can sort out funeral arrangements, and anything else I need to do?’

It was never easy breaking this sort of news, but Kate felt for this young woman. In losing her brother, her whole world had been turned upside down. ‘I’ll be in touch,’ Kate assured her, handing her a business card. ‘This has my mobile number on it. You can call at any time if you remember anything else, you have any questions, or if you just need someone to talk to. Would you like me to tell your boss that you should go home for the rest of the day?’

‘No, please don’t. I’d rather finish my shift; I don’t want to be alone.’

Kate watched her leave the office, captivated by Ana’s resolve against such adversity. And in that moment, Kate made a silent promise that she would bring Petr’s killer to justice.