Chapters (45)
‘I’ll check the council’s CCTV for traffic in this area. Doubt there’ll be much of it after midnight apart from minicabs and taxis. Sounds like it was a big car, too, maybe a van.’ He looked at the houses either side of them. ‘I might try a few doors, in case anyone saw anything. Could get lucky with one of those video doorbells; might’ve captured the car or driver.’ He looked at her to see if he’d forgotten anything.
‘Laura will be at mine if and when you need her. That’s not something I want widely known, though.’
‘Understood.’
Clarke indicated the fire investigator. ‘Make sure you get his details before he leaves. If this ties into any other incidents, we need to know.’
‘What about compiling a suspect list?’
‘I’ll get Laura started on that in the morning.’
‘One last thing,’ Ogilvie said. ‘Is this an attempted murder? I’m just wondering how I frame it to the boss.’
‘Attempted murder until the fiscal says otherwise.’ Clarke was thinking of how different the outcome could have been if Smith had been dead to the world in bed.
She watched Ogilvie nod his understanding, then walked back to the house and stepped through the doorway. Smith was in the living room, tapping something into her phone.
‘Just putting a photo on Twitter,’ she explained.
‘Are you sure that’s wise?’
‘Maybe not wise, but necessary.’
‘Are you posting as Laura Smith or the Courant?’
‘The Courant is reporting an attack on Laura Smith’s home.’
‘You’re basically outing yourself.’
‘Time to step from the shadows, Siobhan. My employer will either be okay with that, or they won’t. But as the Courant gets more hits than their own website …’ She shrugged, then picked up the backpack and shopping bag that had been sitting at her feet.
‘There’s only toast for breakfast,’ Clarke warned her. ‘Unless one of us wakes up early.’
‘No way I’m going to be able to sleep. Plus I need to get this written.’
‘Just remember it’s a police matter, Laura. Don’t trample over our inquiry.’
‘Wouldn’t dream of it.’
She locked the front door after them, and didn’t look back once as she headed to the car.