As far as she could work out, from talking to both men and asking crucial questions that only the killers would know, neither Jackson Akers nor Tyrone Fenton was the perpetrator of either killing. The injuries on Tyrone’s hand were defensive rather than the result of frenzied stabbing with a slippery blade. Ted had reported evidence of recent sexual activity from Keira’s body, but nothing to suggest that it wasn’t mutual and consensual. Plus, the clothes at the lab didn’t match what Tyrone and Jackson were wearing on the CCTV. Both men, when shown the footage, told exactly the same story about the events of that morning, and despite Kelly playing a few tried-and-tested tricks used on multiple suspects giving evidence about the same event, she hadn’t been able to trip them up. The chances of two liars passing that type of test were virtually zero.

Plus, Kelly couldn’t ignore the fact that Tyrone Fenton looked truly traumatised and sorrowful over what he’d seen happen to his girlfriend; according to Jackson, he’d been high ever since to numb the pain. She watched both men carefully; she’d been on plenty of body language conferences to spot the basic signs of deceit and earnestness. She believed them. But she had to prove it, and she couldn’t help thinking that Jackson was holding something back.

Will followed her to her office and she closed the door. He remained standing.

‘I’ve got something to show you.’

He came around her desk and she tapped a few buttons and brought up the CCTV from B&Q. She let him watch it. He didn’t speak, but walked back around the desk.

‘I’m all ears, Will.’

‘He’s an informant.’

‘No shit, Sherlock. Since when?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Bullshit. What have you had out of him?’

‘You know I can’t share that information, guv. It’s intel. He’s Liam’s, I just go along to provide muscle occasionally.’

‘And when his name came up as part of our inquiry, you choose not to tell me because…’

‘Same reason. Informants are confidential.’

‘So, you and Liam conducted your own interview with him and failed to tell me, even though I’m the SIO on this case and he’s a suspect.’

‘It was a direct order, ma’am.’

‘From?’

‘Classified.’

‘What? Who the hell are you working for, Will? Because from where I’m sitting, it sure as hell isn’t me.’

Will put his hands on top of his head and let out a gasp. He closed his eyes and sat down in the chair opposite Kelly.

‘Will, what’s going on?’

‘I can’t… I just can’t.’

‘Can’t what?’

‘Before you came here, there were things going on that no one knew about. I don’t work in this department. I was brought in when you were, but I work elsewhere.’