---

Anna called Robyn across to her computer screen as soon as she walked through the door.

‘I don’t know if this is significant but I came across it when I was searching through the ANPR points. Mr Akar works there, doesn’t he?’

She handed over a photograph, a still captured from one of the cameras on the route to Cannock Chase, of a white van with blue writing along its side that read ‘Mike’s Motors’. She looked at the time it was taken, twelve thirty, and tapped it.

‘Good work, Anna. We’ll start with Mr Akar and Mike’s Motors. What time do they shut?’

‘It’s late night on a Thursday. Six thirty, guv. I phoned up and checked. We’ve just got time to catch them there.’

Robyn gave Anna a warm smile. The woman would go the extra mile to catch a criminal. She loved that about all her team. ‘Let’s see what Libby and Tarik have to say.’

---

It took twenty-eight minutes to reach the industrial estate in Hanley. The garage, a bland, concrete building with a tin roof, looked like all the other buildings lined up beside each other, row after row on the estate. They passed electrical stores, furniture outlets, decorating stores and clothing outlets before they came across it at the end of the fifth row. There was no sign to make it stand out. Only the several cars lined up outside gave it away as a garage.

Robyn and Anna made their way around the building to the side, which turned out to be a large entrance to the workshop. A VW Passat faced them, bonnet open, a figure leaning over it. Loud, tinny music that Robyn identified as Britney Spears came from somewhere at the back of the garage, where somebody was whistling tunelessly along with the song and bashing metal noisily. She ducked under the metal shutter hanging a third of the way down, and walked into the workshop. The smell of grease was overpowering and she carefully trod around a dark puddle of what looked like oil, towards a man working underneath a Range Rover, jacked up on a ramp. He soon caught sight of her and shouted.

‘Office is round the other side, love.’

She held up her warrant card. ‘We’d like a word with one of the mechanics, please.’

The man approached, wiping his black hands on a filthy rag. ‘I’m Mike of Mike’s Motors. What’s this all about? We run a clean ship here. No dodgy dealings.’ He scowled at her as if to make a point.

‘Just a friendly word with Mr Akar, please. Nothing related to your premises. Just after some information.’

His eyes narrowed. ‘Tarik?’

‘Is he here?’

‘At the back. Hang on.’ He bellowed in the direction of the music and the whistling stopped.

Tarik appeared, a well-built man with a solid chest, in blue overalls stained black at the knees, hands as dirty as Mike’s.

‘Yeah?’

‘For you,’ said Mike, indicating Robyn with his head and moving back towards the Range Rover.

‘Sorry to bother you at work but we’re investigating a murder and would like to ask for your help.’

‘Murder?’ Tarik’s dark eyebrows rose in surprise.

‘We understand you know the victim’s sister – Libby Gregson.’ Robyn watched his reaction carefully.

‘Oh yeah. She told me. Her brother. Don’t see how I can help. Never met the bloke.’

He folded his arms, veins bulging on his biceps as he did so. Tarik Akar was obviously keen on bodybuilding.

‘It’s just to clear up a few things. I understand you went to the same school as Mr Gregson.’

‘I did but I wasn’t in the same year. I’d left before him and his sister joined the school. My brother was in Henry’s class but they didn’t hang out together.’

‘And your brother is?’

‘Nadir. Don’t see how that’s important. He never hung about with Henry. He went out with Libby for a few months after they left school.’

‘And you know Miss Gregson through your brother?’

‘Sort of. She brings her car here for servicing.’

‘And you’re friends with Miss Gregson?’

Tarik gave a light shrug and stared hard at Robyn. ‘Yeah. I suppose so. We chat and stuff. She hangs about here waiting for her car when it’s in, or sometimes I give her a lift home and take the car back for her when it’s done. It’s difficult like, what with her mum being sick and all that. She doesn’t get out like she used to.’

‘And did you see her yesterday?’

‘Nah. I was here all day. Why would I see her?’

‘Maybe to give her support. After all, her brother had died.’

He shrugged again. ‘They weren’t that close. He left the area years ago. He was a bit of a prick, to be honest. He used to hang about with a rough gang of lads. They were always into trouble, shoplifting, underage drinking, and fights. One time, he and his fellow thugs took Nadir down an alley and thumped the crap out of him. Nadir didn’t let on who’d done it until I wrung it out of him. He didn’t want no trouble. Said Henry had egged the others on. I wanted to flatten the little shit but Nadir said it would only make things worse. Made me promise to stay out of it. I didn’t want to. I don’t like people messing with my family. Family’s important. That’s water under the bridge now. Libby’s nothing like her brother.’

Robyn gave a nod. ‘You were here at work all day?’

He cocked his head. ‘Yeah. Why?’

Robyn pulled out the still from a folder and held it up. ‘So it wasn’t you driving this van yesterday at twelve thirty?’

‘Oh yeah, that,’ he said, scrubbing at his chin. ‘I forgot I had to fetch some spare parts from outside Cannock. We needed them for the Passat, isn’t that right, Mike?’

Mike stopped working and looked up. ‘What?’

‘I had to fetch spare parts for the Passat?’

Mike nodded. ‘Yes. I sent him. It needed a new carburettor. The guys at Cannock had one.’

‘And what is the name of the garage in Cannock?’

‘It’s just a small workshop. They tinker about with various cars and have parts, but not for sale to the public. JJ Parts. It’s called JJ Parts.’ He ran his tongue over his lips.

‘And what time did you return from JJ Parts?’

‘I don’t know. I had to hang about a while. They couldn’t find it, and when they did, it was the wrong one, so I had to wait for them to get the right one delivered from their other workshop. Probably about four-ish.’ Tarik spoke quickly, his eyes never leaving Mike. ‘Mike?’

Mike shrugged. ‘I wasn’t clock-watching. About four.’ He turned away and lifted a wrench, and then disappeared under the car once more.

‘They’ll confirm it. Ring Brett. He’ll be there until seven. He’ll tell you. So, if that’s everything, I have to get back to work.’

Robyn glanced at his heavy work boots. ‘Can I ask you what size shoes you take, Mr Akar?’

‘What?’

‘Shoes, sir.’

‘Ten. Why?’

Robyn ignored the question.

‘Thank you, sir.’ She watched as he strode to the back of the workshop. The prints found at the crime scene on Cannock Chase were a size ten. There were unidentified fingerprints on the Kia’s passenger door. If they were lucky, the prints might match Akar’s.

‘How soon can we get his fingerprints? They are on file, aren’t they?’ Robyn asked Anna.

‘Yes. I asked for them to be sent directly to Connor, as you requested. Should get them later today or by tomorrow morning at the latest.’

‘Here’s hoping they do. In the meantime, we’ll talk to Libby again.’

---

Libby was dressed in black leather trousers and a red silken blouse more suited to an evening out than sitting at home, caring for her mother.

‘Mum isn’t well at all today. I don’t want to upset her by inviting you in.’

‘I’m sorry to hear that. We won’t keep you.’

Robyn stood her ground until Libby allowed them entry. Kath was wearing the same outfit as the day before and a coat unbuttoned and hanging open. Her face brightened when she saw Robyn.

‘Have you come to take me out?’ She began to fumble with the large black buttons on her coat.

Robyn shook her head. ‘Sorry, Mrs Gregson. I’m here to talk to Libby.’

‘Libby? Libby’s at school. She won’t be home until tea time.’

Libby walked across to her mother and knelt in front of her, hands resting on her mother’s knees. ‘It’s DI Carter, Mum. She’s here about Henry.’

Kath’s face clouded further. ‘Henry. When’s Henry coming? He promised to take me to the park.’ She stood up. Libby coaxed her back into the chair, where she sat and fiddled once more with the buttons on her coat.

‘She won’t take off the coat,’ said Libby. ‘Sometimes she sits in it all day. I used to take her out to the park but I daren’t now. She gets so stressed and won’t even get out of the car.’ She gave a sad smile.

‘I’m sorry to disturb you yet again. I’ve got a couple of questions. You might want to talk in private.’

Libby sighed and moved into the kitchen, where she rested against the kitchen top, keeping Robyn and Anna standing.

‘What is it?’

‘It’s about the tattoos you have.’

Libby barked a laugh. ‘What of them?’

‘It’s coincidental you have a new tattoo of a gun shooting flowers you posted on your Facebook wall the day before your brother was shot.’

Libby was incredulous, her mouth agape. It was a moment before she spoke.

‘You accessed my Facebook page? Why?’

‘We look into the backgrounds of everyone connected with the victim, Miss Gregson. You weren’t singled out. I’d like to clear up why you posted a photograph of the tattoo. You can see how strange that would look to us.’

Libby reached for the packet of cigarettes near the kettle and lit one before speaking. ‘Let’s get this straight. I like tattoos. I’ve been getting them done since I was a teenager. When Mum became ill, I developed an interest in “darker” tattoos. You’ve seen the one of the skull with angel wings on my back? That represents my mother. She’s alive but dead. Have you any idea what it’s like to watch somebody you love with every bone in your body fade away, to be nothing more than a shell, to know they don’t remember you, or share the memories of your life together? I look at my mother and remember her kissing my knee better when I fell over, being there for me every time I needed her, us shopping together, or sitting on the settee together sharing a box of tissues while we both sobbed at a sad film. She looks at me today and can’t remember any of it. It’s horrible knowing she can’t remember Christmases or birthdays, or even who I am some days. And she’ll get worse. She’ll forget how to eat, to wash herself, or even how to use the toilet, and everything that made her the caring, loving, gentle woman I loved so much will be gone, but she’ll still be there – a frail, helpless shadow.

‘The tattoo was a release. It’s my way of dealing with this. The gun wasn’t for Henry! It represents me shooting my own mother – not in hate, but with love – with flowers.’ She stubbed the cigarette out angrily, grinding it until it split and remnants of tobacco crumbled from the paper into the saucer.

‘I understand,’ said Robyn softly. ‘I’m truly sorry. You see why I had to ask you?’

Libby nodded dumbly then drew herself back up on her chair. ‘Is that it? The podiatrist is coming in a while to cut her nails. Mum won’t let me near them. I’d rather you left so I can get her prepared.’

‘Can I ask you one other thing, about Tarik Akar?’

The dark expression that crossed Libby’s face indicated she’d struck a nerve.

‘What about him?’

‘You know him?’

‘I’ve known him most of my life. I went out with his brother, Nadir, when I was younger. He helps out sometimes when I can’t leave Mum – picks up shopping, calls by, that sort of thing. His sister, Kiraz, watches Mum for me when I need to go out for an appointment, shopping or a quick coffee with friends, that sort of thing. It’s never for too long.’

‘So, he’s a good friend?’

Libby raised her shoulders in a nonchalant shrug.

‘You wouldn’t say it was more than a friendship?’

‘He’s married and his wife’s expecting. Does that answer your question?’ Libby folded her arms and glared at Robyn.

‘Not really. I believe he sent you a text asking you to keep quiet about something. Forgive me for asking, but what was he referring to?’

Libby’s mouth fell wide open. Her words were a gasp of astonishment. ‘You read my texts?’

‘Your phone lit up when I was sat next to it. I only glanced at it.’

‘That’s an invasion of my privacy. I’d like you to leave now.’ Libby’s face darkened further and she marched towards the front door, opening it wide.

‘Miss Gregson, I don’t wish to pry. I’m merely ensuring we can track down the person guilty of murdering your brother.’

‘You think Tarik killed him?’ Her voice rose in indignation.

‘His van was captured on a camera near the area where your brother was discovered. I have to follow up on that, eliminate him from our enquiries, and find whoever is responsible.’

Libby floundered. ‘He can’t have been there. He was at work.’

‘Could you explain the gist of the text, please? At the moment, it incriminates him.’

Libby let out the longest sigh. ‘Okay, okay. I have been having an affair with him. I’ve always held a torch for him. I know he’s married and he’ll never leave his wife, but I’m so lonely. I was in other relationships prior to looking after Mum full time, and they all ended up disastrously. I’m rubbish at finding the right bloke. Tarik’s different. I know it can’t be anything other than it is, but I need him. The text was about our affair. Tarik comes over when Mum’s asleep, and recently, his wife’s started to question his movements. The text was about me keeping it under wraps if his wife asks me any searching questions. Of course, I’d never let on. And that’s all there is to it.’ Her lips turned downwards. ‘He wouldn’t do anything to hurt Henry.’

‘Thank you, Miss Gregson. I’m truly sorry to have caused you any distress.’

‘So, you’ll leave Tarik alone?’

Robyn avoided answering. ‘I appreciate your honesty and I’ll do everything I can to track down your brother’s murderer.’

Anna waited until they were on the road back to Stafford before asking if Tarik was no longer to be considered a suspect.

Robyn chewed her lip before responding. ‘Not sure. I think I’d like to talk to that chap Brett at JJ Parts first. There was something about the way Tarik dragged Mike into the conversation to back him up that didn’t seem right. Okay, let’s head back – I’ll call Brett on the way, let’s hope he’s working late. Connor is due in at eight, and if we’re lucky, we should just make it in time.’

---

Connor, dressed casually in a navy jumper and jeans, arrived at 8 p.m. on the dot, looking fresh-faced as if he’d been relaxing on holiday rather than working a crime scene all day. He meandered into the office, beamed at Anna and pointed at the sleeping feline in the cage next to her desk.

‘Is it bring-a-pet-to-work day, PC Shamash?’

Her face broke into a rare smile. ‘Highly amusing. If it were, my ferocious hound, Razzle, would be sitting faithfully by my side.’

‘I’ve met Razzle and the only thing ferocious about him is his appetite. Am I over there?’ He waved at a table at the front of the room sandwiched in between two desks, right in front of the whiteboard.

‘That’s you. Sorry it’s a bit of a squeeze. We’ve got squatters,’ said Anna.

‘I’ll manage. There’s not a great deal to report. Apologies for the casual dress,’ he said as Robyn lifted her head. ‘Got to meet up with a certain person and take her out to make up for missing Valentine’s Day.’

Matt let out a groan. ‘If you cave in to her now, man, you’ll be under her thumb forever. Take it from one who knows.’

Connor laughed and organised his notes.

‘The floor’s yours,’ said Robyn.

‘Firstly, I have bad news regarding the fingerprints I received. Tarik Akar’s fingerprints don’t match the one we found on the door of the Kia.’ He caught Robyn’s look and smiled apologetically. ‘As for Tessa Hall, we’re still securing the crime scene. I have a list of tagged and bagged items so far.’ He passed over three sheets of paper and Robyn read through them quickly.

‘So far we haven’t located the weapon used in the attack. With regard to fingerprints – there are quite a few. Most of them belong to Tessa, but there are a few that don’t. There are partials and full fingerprints in the kitchen, on the kitchen table, and in the downstairs toilet. We used fingerprint identification technology to establish the gender of the prints, and a quick male/female response revealed one set of these prints, found on a kitchen stool and over surfaces in the sitting room – television control, television buttons and CDs – belonged to a male. Prints lifted from the Valentine’s card in the kitchen matched those we found elsewhere. We’re still working through the rest of the house.’ He put up a series of transparencies showing the fingerprints.

‘Her boyfriend must have left them,’ Mitz said.

Robyn agreed. She read through the items taken from the house and stabbed at the paper. ‘Fingernail?’

‘It’s being tested for DNA to see if it belongs to Miss Hall. It was found under a piece of loose skirting board near the fridge and might have been there for years. Right. I’d best be off. I’ll be back in touch as soon as I have more.’

Connor collected up his documents and, with a wink at Anna, left the office. Robyn took over.

‘I know we’re working two cases here but it’s nothing we can’t handle. Let’s go back to Henry Gregson for a minute. We’re excluding Libby Gregson from our enquiries for now. Tarik Akar is still a person of interest. He was in the area at the time of the murder, has size ten feet to match the prints at the murder scene, and although his alibi holds up, I believe he’s hiding something.’ Robyn thought back to the phone call she’d made to JJ Parts. Brett had sounded vague and evasive when she’d questioned him. Tarik Akar was involved in something. Her instinct told her so, and even under duress, her instinct was rarely wrong.