‘Guv, will you just wait a few more minutes? If Mancini is our guy we can’t risk destroying anything in there.’

She drummed her fingers on the dashboard. A squad car was parked behind them, waiting to take him in, and the arrest and search warrant was safely tucked in her pocket. Only Mitch was missing to secure the scene forensically once they left.

Kim was eager to get Giovanni Mancini down to the station. Both him and his Reeboks. If Bryant thought she’d been tough on him the day before, her colleague might want to shield his eyes this time around.

‘He could be destroying evidence right now,’ she said with frustration.

‘Look, just give—’

‘He’s here,’ Kim said, grabbing the door handle.

Mitch’s van rolled in behind the squad car. Her appearance out of the car prompted the two constables to make a move too. They all met at the rear of Bryant’s Astra. Mitch and two techies began changing into protective suits.

Kim spoke directly to the constables. ‘One knock and if he doesn’t answer, force the door.’

They nodded their understanding and headed towards the target property.

They knocked once, and Kim found herself hoping they could barge in and take him by surprise.

The door began to slowly open, revealing Giovanni Mancini.

Kim rushed past, impatient to have him down at the station.

‘Giovanni Mancini, I’m arresting you for the murder of Gordon Cordell. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.’

She ignored his bewildered expression, most likely born of being caught.

‘We have a warrant to search these premises,’ she said, laying the paperwork on the kitchen countertop.

One of the constables asked him to put out his hands. The request seemed to nudge him from the dreamlike state he’d entered.

‘You’ve got to be fuck—’

‘I can assure you we’re not joking,’ Kim said, as the techies, led by Mitch, entered the home.

‘And make sure you get those Reeboks,’ she called over her shoulder as Mitch passed behind her.

‘You can’t arrest me,’ Giovanni spluttered. ‘You have no proof. You can’t have because I didn’t fucking do it,’ he blasted.

She gave him a half smile and instructed the constables to take him to the car.

‘Okay,’ Bryant said. ‘You ready?’

‘Just wanna take a quick look around first,’ she said, moving down the hallway.

She pushed open a bedroom doorway on her left. The room was messy, unkempt, like that of a teenager, with the smell of stale sweat and even staler food wafting towards her. The orderly uniform hanging on the door handle of the wardrobe confirmed this to be Giovanni’s room. Yeah, good luck in there, guys, she thought of the techies as she closed the door.

By contrast the next room was tidy and ordered. The double bed was made and everything appeared to be clean.

‘Hmm, this is a bit strange, eh?’ she said to Bryant. ‘These two seemed to be incredibly close and when his son appears to be in some serious trouble, Mancini senior is suddenly nowhere to be found.’