‘There’s more.’ Michael took a deep breath. ‘On that Monday, Farook collected me earlier than the usual five p.m., and I know it was just before 7:30 when I returned home because Coronation Street started not long after.’

Jane and Spencer looked at each other as the adrenaline kicked in. That gave Farook two hours unaccounted for.

‘Farook asked me not to say anything,’ Michael continued. ‘He was worried he’d lose his job. As I’ve said, Mandy was a stickler for time-keeping, but Farook told me he’d just move the clock back; Mandy would never know because her last client was suffering from dementia and didn’t know what time of day it was.’

Spencer pushed his chair back. ‘We’ll need you to write a witness statement detailing what you’ve just told us, but there will be no charges at present. We’ll arrange for you to be taken back to the care home, but you must not contact Farook.’

Jane quickly left the room as Spencer started going through the statement with Michael. She was almost running when she entered the incident room, and there was a buzz of excitement when she informed everyone the entire timeline had changed.

*

Spencer was out of breath, having legged it up the stairs two at a time. When he burst into the incident room he could feel there was a new energy. Tyler had confirmation from the surveillance officers that Farook was at Mandy Pilkington’s residence in plain sight, polishing the front windows of the house. He wanted the arrest to happen as soon as possible. Two unmarked cars were being sent, and the surveillance team would be moved on with a search warrant for Farook’s premises.

Tyler grinned at Spencer. ‘It bloody well took you long enough. He better be our man.’

Chapter Twenty-Five

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Spencer was in the first car with a plain-clothes officer, and DCI Tyler followed in a car with two more in uniform. Knowing that Farook had a history of assault, and that he was suspected of an extremely violent offence, they were taking no chances.

As soon as Farook saw Tyler and Spencer walking up the pathway, he gave them a polite nod.

‘Ahmed Farook, I am arresting you on suspicion of the murder of Charles Foxley.’ As Tyler continued giving him his rights, Farook dropped the sponge he was using to wash the windows into the bucket.

‘Do you understand what I have just told you?’ Tyler asked.

‘I understand, sir. Is it permissible for me to wash my hands and put on my jacket?’