He began slowly and quietly, telling a story of two young people who’d partied all night, having sex, smoking drugs, being carefree. Then he described how it all ended, with Keira being held from behind and Jason stabbing her. Kelly had read the autopsy; she knew Keira had been stabbed eleven times in the gut. It sickened her. But these men sitting before her had nothing to gain and everything to lose. Tyrone would never have walked in here if it wasn’t for Jackson. And Jackson would never have walked in here if it wasn’t his last resort. She had to find some way to reward them.

‘Can I take the bag?’

‘The knife’s in an envelope.’

She put on plastic gloves and found the envelope, peering inside at a small knife that looked as though it should be used for peeling potatoes. It matched what Ted had told her about the weapon that had ended Keira’s life.

‘Is there anything else you came to tell me tonight? Do you know where the brothers are?’

‘I know loads of the places they use,’ Jackson said.

‘I’m listening.’

Chapter 38

Thomas Watson looked at the man in front of him. He’d never really considered him a close friend, but he was grateful for his help – or so he’d thought. Neil Ormond had just got off the phone with DI Porter, and Thomas didn’t like the tone he’d used with her. As far as Thomas was concerned, Kelly Porter was a thoroughly decent and genuine person. Millie in particular thought the woman kind and warm. Yet here in his house, under the influence of alcohol, her boss was telling him otherwise.

Thomas hadn’t invited Ormond; he’d just turned up. He’d occasionally shared a pint with the man at the golf club, and they’d been over for Sunday lunch once. As they’d left, Ella had told him that she was unsure of Ormond and not convinced that he was cut out to be a senior policeman: she didn’t get the impression that his morals were sound.

When Thomas had questioned her, she’d said that Neil had come out with a few things that she found inappropriate and frankly disturbing. He’d made a joke about something in the news involving children, and she didn’t like the way he slapped his wife’s rear.

‘Women’s intuition,’ she’d said.