‘My father-in-law has money.’
‘Can I see the photo they sent?’
I hand over my phone. He studies the image. ‘Not your usual basement.’
Gil wipes her eyes. DS Blackford’s voice is gentle: ‘When’s the next drop-off?’
‘I don’t know. He said he’d call.’
Burrow nods. ‘Call us when that happens. We’ll leave you in peace now.’ He hands me a card. ‘Gil, Nicola, please wait fifteen minutes to avoid attracting attention. I’d rather we’re not all seen together.’
The police then leave. I pour a large whisky and sit back, exhausted.
‘Am I really fired?’ Nicola asks.
I sip the whisky, feeling it calm me. ‘No. I’d be screwed without you.’
Gil stands. ‘We should go.’
I check my watch. ‘Not until the fifteen minutes are up.’
We wait in silence until finally it's time for them to leave. Once they’ve gone I lock the door, bottle in hand, and curse them all.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Josie
No one is surprised the comic turns out to be worthless. It’s damp, torn and smudged with footprints, and whatever hope there was of finding DNA is gone.
Dario and I do a slow circuit of the area where it was found. The factory buildings are crumbling relics, with windows boarded up, bricks cracked, steel doors rusting on their hinges. A few workers are gathered outside a warehouse, cigarettes glowing in the dusk.
One of them calls out: ‘You two cops?’
I turn. ‘Why do you ask?’
‘Just wondering. Is this about that white van the other afternoon? I thought about calling it in.’ He shrugs. ‘But didn’t want the hassle, you know?’
‘What day was that?’ Dario asks.
‘You asking me?’ the guy snorts. ‘My memory ain’t what it used to be, but… Wednesday, maybe.’
‘Well, that must have been the bastard who smashed my car,’ Dario says smoothly. ‘Ripped the back clean off and came tearing through here. I couldn’t follow as the engine was dead.’
I glance at him, impressed. ‘Off the cuff?’ I murmur.
He nods. ‘Yeah.’
‘Impressive.’
The guy steps closer, exhaling a plume of smoke that curls around his face like fog. He flicks ash to the ground.
‘You’re not cops, then?’
I scoff. ‘Tried them. About as helpful as a chocolate teapot.’
He chuckles.
‘Tell me about it. Anyway, the guy in the van looked nervous. Real twitchy. Sat there for ages. You’d think he’d bolt after hitting someone’s car.’
