Browning walked into the CID office clutching a DVD case to his chest as if his life depended on it. Lucy, who was a tier-five interview coordinator, and Mattie, who was a tier-three interview-trained officer, were working on the interview strategy for Lewis Waite. It was their job to make sure it went as smoothly as possible and that their line of questioning brought them the results they were after. Lucy had decided that they should initially approach him as a witness and not a suspect.

‘I want to get him on side, show him we understand how upset he must be about Stacey. Basically treat him with kid gloves in the first session. Which is what we’d do anyway – don’t be too heavy-handed. Show him some sympathy, break him down a bit, then we’ll take a break. When you go back in, start on the hard-hitting questions and see how he reacts.’

Browning knocked on her office door before entering. ‘Have you got a moment, boss? You’re going to want to take a look at this CCTV; it’s good.’

Lucy looked up at him. ‘Really?’

‘Yes, really. I’d say it hands our killer over on a plate.’

Mattie leant across the desk and high-fived Lucy. ‘Well that would make a refreshing change.’

She nodded, not daring to raise her hopes. She stood up and followed Browning and Mattie across to Col’s desk. Col came across to them carrying a stack of files, which he placed face down on the desk. His was the only computer that was all singing and all dancing. Most of the others ran so slowly that it would take an hour to get the disc to load, never mind to actually play. Browning handed the DVD to Col, who took it from him and inserted it into the disc drive. Lucy prayed that this was what they needed; it would be so good to get the case wrapped up quickly.

The footage began to play and the screen was filled with a clear picture of the nightclub’s bar area. It was busy in there. A woman, who was clearly their victim, was tapped on the shoulder by Lewis Waite. She turned around to face him and they began to argue.

‘Is there any sound?’

Browning shook his head. ‘I listened to it and all you can hear is the thud, thud of the music. It’s too loud to hear what they’re saying.’

‘That’s a shame, but at least it puts him and her together in the nightclub.’

The woman lifted her hand and slapped Lewis hard across his cheek. Browning stole a glance at Lucy, who let out a small whoop. ‘Motive – he’s pissed off at her for hitting him and showing him up in the club?’

Mattie nodded in agreement. They watched as Lewis shoved her, then stopped and was escorted out by two bouncers. The woman turned, bumping into someone else just out of sight of the camera. Her clutch bag fell to the floor, spilling its entire contents everywhere. They watched as she bent down to pick up her things. Someone was helping her, but they were off camera. Then she disappeared from the screen.

‘Where’s she gone?’

‘Toilets.’

The footage paused as it switched to another camera showing their victim going into the ladies’ toilets alone and coming back out on her own. This time she went across to the bar, the camera picking her up again there. Another woman handed her a shot glass and she downed it.

‘This is awful. She’s there having a good time until her argument with Lewis, but it doesn’t seem to put her off. I love that we have such good CCTV evidence; I just hate watching it knowing how it’s all going to end.’

Mattie nodded. ‘It makes me feel queasy.’

Browning looked away from the screen at Lucy. ‘She stays in the club for a couple more hours – she spends most of that on the dance floor and at the bar. She leaves at 1.50 a.m. on her own. The doorman has to ask her to leave because she’s a bit worse for wear. You can see her wandering down the street from the club until she’s out of sight of the camera.’

‘So she’s heading for her flat, not knowing that her killer is lying in wait for her. Good work, Browning. This is brilliant evidence – we can use it in the interview. What about Lewis? Do you know what time he left the club?’

Browning pulled another disc out of his pocket. ‘This one shows a man who I believe is the same guy she’s arguing with. He’s escorted out of the club after their little spat. He walks off in the opposite direction from where she heads later, though.’

‘That doesn’t matter; he might have taken the long way round. There are a couple of hours between their argument and her leaving.’

Mattie nodded. ‘He’s looking good for this.’

Lucy agreed, but she wasn’t getting her hopes up because there was still the issue of the missing shoes and she didn’t want to put all her eggs into one basket. There was a lot of circumstantial evidence to suggest that Lewis Waite was responsible, but what they really needed was some solid forensic evidence linking him to the body. He’d already trampled the crime scene – would he have done this if he knew that Stacey Green was lying dead where he’d left her? Lucy had a feeling that maybe he would. She tried to ignore the gnawing sensation in the pit of her stomach. Even if Lewis wasn’t the killer, he was a key witness. They needed to trace and interview the friends that Stacey was with last night in the club, as well as the bar staff, doormen and bouncers. Lucy dialled Ellie’s number, wondering how she’d take the news that she had to work late. Ellie didn’t answer so she left her a voicemail.

‘Sweetheart, I’m so sorry, there’s been a bad case come in. I can’t finish in time to pick you up. I’ll make it up to you tomorrow. Love you.’ The custody clock was ticking – they needed to get cracking.