Standing in the queue at the reception desk, Kate was surprised at how many people were waiting to gain access to the pool or gym this late on a Monday afternoon. As she checked her watch for the umpteenth time, she wondered how much longer she’d have to wait until a second staff member manned the reception desk. Finn was waiting in the car again, and he’d be concerned that she was taking so long.

She would have pushed through the queue, had she still had her identification, but she would have to wait like everyone else. She willed the line to move quicker.

Kate finally made it to the front, and was pleased when she recognised the young man behind the desk. He couldn’t have been much older than twenty-five, with a toned physique, and a smile so white he must have had veneers.

She pushed her business card across the desk. ‘Could we have a word in private?’ she asked.

A look of guilt descended on his features as he nodded and called for a colleague to take his place at the desk, before leading her through to the small office behind the desk.

Kate made sure the door was closed before she began. ‘I’m DI Kate Matthews. It’s Ethan, isn’t it?’

‘That’s right,’ he said, his shoulders tensing. ‘Have I done something wrong?’

Kate kept a straight face. ‘Not that I’m aware of. If you have, that’s not why I’m here. You don’t recognise me, do you?’

He frowned as he studied her face. ‘Are you a member here?’

‘No. I came in here and spoke to you, must be… just over a year ago. I was investigating the murder of your colleague Willow Daniels.’

He clicked his fingers, and the broad smile returned. ‘You were after security-camera footage, weren’t you?’

She smiled to acknowledge that he’d made the connection. ‘That’s right.’

‘I remember you now. How’ve you been?’

‘I’m well, thank you, Ethan.’

‘Do you want to join the gym? We offer a special discount to the emergency services. The package includes—’

She cut him off. ‘I’m not here in a personal capacity. The case has been reopened.’

His eyes widened with trepidation. ‘What do you need?’

She was relieved he was so willing; clearly he wasn’t going to ask too many questions.

‘Well, Ethan, I need you to run me off another copy of those recordings, if you don’t mind.’

‘Sure.’ He nodded, reaching for a pen and scrap of paper. ‘Remind me which dates you needed again?’

‘Well, Willow was killed Thursday, 20 August 2015, so that day and each day in the four weeks prior.’

He jotted the dates down. ‘I’ll have to go and grab them. Do you mind waiting here while I go to the security office? I’ll try not to be too long.’

Kate did her best not to look too relieved. He would have been within his rights to refuse her request without a warrant, or confirmation from the SIO on the case, but he had accepted her at face value. Not that she expected to see Isbitt’s face on the footage. She still wasn’t convinced that Mrs Daniels had ever seen him, let alone down here, but she had to be certain.

‘I’m happy to wait,’ Kate confirmed.

‘Would you like a tea or coffee while you’re waiting?’

‘No, just the footage, please.’

Kate sent Finn a message, explaining that she wouldn’t be too much longer. She’d missed a call from Laura while she’d been talking to Ethan, but she didn’t want to call her back from here. Wallace Brookes hadn’t made contact, but if he was away, he wouldn’t have seen her note yet. She would return tomorrow and if he still didn’t answer, she’d reach out to his landlord and find out if he knew where Brookes was.

It was tempting to find a hotel for the night, as she planned to show Isbitt’s image to some of Willow’s friends, as well as to Steph’s colleagues and Roxie’s friends. But Trish would already be wondering where her car was.

---

Twenty minutes had passed when Ethan returned to the small office. He handed eight DVD cases to her. ‘There you go.’

‘Oh, couldn’t you have put it on a memory stick or something?’

He puffed out his cheeks. ‘Sorry, that’s how they come.’

Kate’s laptop didn’t have a DVD drive, which meant she’d have to be at home in front of her TV to watch them. She forced a smile. ‘Forget about it. I’m sure these will be fine. And this is everything from the four weeks prior to Willow’s death?’

Ethan nodded solemnly. ‘Everything up to and including 20 August. Are you any closer to catching the guy who did it?’

‘Getting closer every day.’

She slipped the cases into her bag, and allowed him to open the door for her.

‘If you need anything else, you know where to find me,’ he said, looking pleased he’d done his bit. ‘And if you change your mind about that membership, tell them I recommended it.’ He leaned closer. ‘We get commission for signing up new members.’

‘I’ll bear it in mind,’ she lied. The queue of people waiting to enter now snaked back to the sliding doors.

---

‘Did Amy use a gym?’ Kate asked, as she returned to the car.

Finn nodded. ‘Yeah, there was one up the road from her flat, I think. Not that she needed to. There wasn’t an ounce of fat on her.’

Kate knew it was common for police officers to use gyms to keep in shape, and to work out the stresses of the job, but it wasn’t a link she’d made before. So all four of the London victims had spent time at a gym. Was that the connection they’d been missing? Were Helen and Mary gym members too?

‘Did you get what you were after?’ he asked.

‘I got the footage if that’s what you mean. But it’ll take days to review everything he’s given me. And I won’t be able to review it on my computer, as I don’t have a DVD drive.’

‘Can I help? I’ve got no plans for this evening. I could watch them and let you know what I find.’

She wrinkled her nose. ‘I’m not sure—’

‘Please?’ he interrupted. ‘Let me do this. You said yourself we’re against the clock. And Amy would want me to help.’

Against her better judgement, Kate relented. ‘Okay, but I’ll be back first thing to see how you’re getting on. Now, it’s probably best if I drop you around the corner from Erin’s place. The last thing I need is her reporting my presence to Armitage.’