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“I can’t work this one out. The call to Sonia Knight’s phone yesterday morning at the station came from a pay-as-you-go mobile that hasn’t been used for four years. There have been no calls to or from this phone in all that time.”
“Don’t tell me,” said Reilly. “You’ve found out the phone belongs to a dead man.”
The CSM stared at Reilly with a strange expression.
“Adam Sinclair?” asked the Irishman.
“How did you know?”
“Call me psychic,” said Reilly.
“I can think of a lot of things to call you, but that wouldn’t be one of them.”
It was the only comment of the whole morning to raise a smile.
“Maybe Johnson and Sinclair have been in it together all along,” said Reilly to Gardener.
“I was just thinking the same thing. Perhaps Johnson spent the night with Sinclair so they could plan what to do next.”
“Or get their stories right,” said Reilly. “Have you thought that Johnson crashing his van was no accident?”
“That’s why I asked Maurice for his medical records.”
“You think Sinclair might have put a small insurance policy in place?”
“Wouldn’t you?”
“I can’t believe it,” said Maurice Cragg. “Not Robert Sinclair. With all due respect, sir, I think there must be some mistake. I know the man’s been through a lot, but he’s a pillar of the community.”
“I hope you’re right, Maurice, but even respectable people can fall from grace.”
“Especially with what he’s been through,” said Reilly. “It’d be enough to unbalance anyone.”
“But he’s been a brick to Gary and his mum. He operated on Gary’s leg. And all his mum’s treatment would have sent anyone bankrupt, but I haven’t heard of any payment being made.”
Gardener wondered about the young constable. “Has anyone been in touch with Gary, just to see how things are?”
“I’ll get on to that, sir,” said Williams.
Gardener did not like the idea of Gary Close having been operated on by Robert Sinclair. He started to wonder what their relationship really was. It was a thought he wanted to keep at bay for the time being.
“When did all this happen, Maurice?”
“Well, Sinclair lost his wife two years ago, in the nursing home. But his son was found four years ago.”
“Why was his wife in a nursing home?” asked Reilly.
“I believe she had a breakdown, sir. After Adam’s death, they do say she never fully recovered.”
“What about Sinclair?” Gardener asked.
“He took it bad, naturally. But rumour has it they were given treatment by Robert’s father, Peter. He’s something of a psychologist.”
“Is he really?” Gardener thought about that, and the death of Adam. “So, we had an unsolved crime on my patch four years ago, possibly murder. Why can’t I remember anything about it?”
Gardener turned his attention to the ANACAPA chart. It really did need updating now. But there were other avenues he needed to pursue. They had still to find Lance Hobson, and he was beginning to wonder if they ever would. He had decisions to make.
He turned to the team. “Maurice, I’d like you to find me everything on the two cases. All the files you can lay your hands on, and I wouldn’t mind betting they’re upstairs. Can you also move mountains, and find that medical history for Graham Johnson?” Gardener glanced at his watch. “I appreciate I’m asking a lot, but can you have them all here in one hour?”
