No sooner had they wound up the interview with Vitor than they were given word of Adam’s arrival.

‘He’s in room C with Murray,’ said Ian.

‘Did he request a lawyer this time?’ Natalie asked.

‘No.’

‘What’s he up to? Is he trying to convince us of his innocence by refusing a lawyer, or is he playing us?’ Natalie shook her head. She couldn’t fathom him out. She turned to Lucy. ‘Head upstairs with Ian and see if there’s any news on that white van Lee got into, or Hassan and Finn. I’ll join Murray.’

---

Adam was chewing at a thumbnail. He cocked his head to one side when Natalie walked into the room and looked through half-closed lids.

‘I hope you’ve nailed the fucker who killed my wife.’

Natalie ignored him. She spotted the manila folder Murray had brought with him and slid onto the seat next to him. He placed the folder on the table and she began.

‘Mr Brannon, we’re about to record this interview. I’m only going to ask you once if you want a lawyer to be present during it.’

Adam sat back in his chair and placed one meaty thigh over the other. ‘Go ahead. Record it. I’ve nothing to hide. I don’t need a lawyer.’

She signalled for Murray to set the recording device into action.

He spoke clearly. ‘Interview with Adam Brannon begins Monday, fifth March, eight twenty p.m. Officers present DS Murray Anderson and DI Natalie Ward. For the record, Adam Brannon has refused to have a lawyer present during this interview.’

Natalie began the interview. ‘Mr Brannon, you told us that on Friday the second of March, you dropped your wife, Charlotte, off at your house at around ten and then took the babysitter, Inge Redfern, home to her house in Brompton. You confessed that you had sexual relations with her, after which you left her house just before eleven and drove to the White Horse in Samford. There you met up with your friend, Lee Webster, and returned with him to his flat. After a drink, you left his place at eleven forty, arriving back home at approximately midnight, at which time you sat downstairs and watched GLOW on Netflix before going upstairs to calm your son, Alfie, who was crying, and discovering your wife’s body.’

‘That’s what happened.’

‘We have new information regarding Lee Webster that throws his alibi out and places him elsewhere at the time he claimed he was with you.’ Natalie was bending the truth of what she’d learnt because all they knew was a witness had confirmed a sighting of Lee at 10.30 p.m. She had to follow her instinct again. If Lee had got into the van with the intention of committing burglary, there was no way he and Adam went back to his flat for drinks. ‘We have a witness who saw Lee Webster get into a white van at ten thirty p.m.’

Adam’s shoulders lifted and dropped. ‘I don’t know where he was beforehand but I met him at eleven by the pub like I told you and we went back to his place.’

‘Yet we can’t confirm that. Your car wasn’t spotted in or around the area near his flat or the pub. It didn’t pass any of the cameras stationed along the roads on the way to his flat or near the pub at or around that time. We have nothing other than your word you were together at that time.’

‘Then you have to take our word, don’t you? Unless you can prove otherwise. I met Lee by the pub at eleven. End of.’

Natalie nodded curtly and paused before saying, ‘You also were unable to identify two suspects from a photograph we showed you. This picture.’

Murray spoke up. ‘DI Ward is showing Adam Brannon photograph E101.’

‘That’s right. I can’t tell from that photograph who that is.’

‘If I showed you this enhanced picture, would you be able to identify the man on the left?’

‘DI Ward is showing Adam Brannon photograph E102.’

Adam peered at it.

‘Recognise the person on the left in it?’

‘Not really. There’s still not much to go on.’

‘If I told you it was Finn Kennedy, would that surprise you?’

‘Finn? What the fuck was he doing around my house that night? He didn’t kill Charlotte, did he? That’s mental.’

Natalie pushed the photograph to one side. ‘You definitely had no idea he was in the vicinity that night?’

Adam shook his head. ‘No idea at all. Who was he with?’

‘We think it was Hassan Ali but we can’t find either of them. Any clues as to where they might be?’

‘Me? No. I did my best with them both but they had a different agenda. Finn could have been a good boxer if he’d got rid of his attitude but he used whatever I taught him out on the street. He took a delight in fighting anyone and everyone for the hell of it. I couldn’t work with him. He wouldn’t calm down. He has quite a few mates on the estate. Could be with any of them.’

‘Okay. Let’s move on to Daniel Kirkdale.’

Adam didn’t flinch.

‘You know Daniel.’

‘Sure I do. He’s one of my sponsors at the club. He funded that little shit Finn until I booted him out for bringing a knife into the club and threatening another kid with it.’

‘I’m sorry to inform you Daniel’s wife, Samantha, was murdered this morning.’

That provoked a physical response. Adam unfolded his arms and sat up straighter. ‘Same killer?’

‘We’re looking into that possibility.’

‘Finn?’

‘We’re considering a number of suspects. Where were you today?’

‘At the club. I didn’t feel like doing anything. I’ve shut the place for now. I stayed there.’

‘All day?’

‘Yes. I needed to be alone. There’s been a lot to take in.’

‘You didn’t leave the club once? Not even to eat?’

‘I’ve got enough to eat in the office. I can’t return home to collect my gear and I don’t know where else to go. I stayed at the club all day.’

‘You didn’t visit Alfie to see how he is, or speak to Charlotte’s parents?’

‘I can’t do that yet. I’m still not ready to handle any of that. I’ll go in my own good time.’

‘Did you talk to anyone at all?’

‘No. I haven’t got a phone, remember? They’re both here at the station with your forensic team. I worked out for a long session, had a shower and then worked out some more. I didn’t feel like doing anything else. I lay on the bed for a while too. Tried to work out what I was going to do next, now Charlotte’s gone. That’s all.’

‘Did you know Samantha Kirkdale?’

‘I’ve seen her with Daniel. Didn’t know her personally.’

‘She ever come into the club?’

‘With Daniel a couple of times, to drop off some publicity material. She hung around while we chatted.’

‘When did you last have contact with Lee?’

‘Not spoken to him since Saturday night. I haven’t got a phone,’ he repeated and stared hard at her.

‘True but you could have visited him.’

‘I didn’t fancy it. Having trouble getting over losing my wife.’ His eyes glowed darkly.

‘Have you fallen out with Lee?’

‘That’s crap. Why would we fall out?’

‘I don’t know. Maybe you’re annoyed about the weak alibi he arranged for you.’

He released a derisory snort.

‘Did you know he was seeing Samantha Kirkdale?’

‘What?’

‘Surely he’d have told you that. You’re his friend.’

‘Straight up. I didn’t know he was seeing anyone. He never once mentioned her.’

‘Did you ever see her at the White Horse pub?’

‘Can’t say I have.’

‘What do you know about Lee’s activities?’

‘What activities are you referring to?’

‘The warehouse break-ins, the burglaries.’

‘I haven’t the foggiest idea what you’re talking about.’ His words were deliberate and slow.

Natalie didn’t believe him. She decided to break off for the time being and tackle him again later. ‘Okay, we’ll leave it there for the moment but I’ll be back to finish this conversation later.’ She nodded at Murray, who turned off the machine.

‘Interview terminated at eight forty p.m.’

‘Do I have to stay here?’

‘You got somewhere else you’d rather be?’

He let out another quiet snort. ‘No.’

‘Then we’d appreciate you helping us with our enquiries. You’re free to go if you want. You haven’t been charged.’ She was taking a risk, giving him a chance to leave, but she banked on the fact he wanted to prove his innocence by appearing to be obliging. It was another hunch that paid off. He didn’t move.

‘Thank you. The sergeant will arrange a drink if you’d like one.’

Adam slumped back in his chair, eyes down on his nail again. ‘Nah. I don’t want anything; except for you to find Charlotte’s killer.’