“If he left it at Leaview, that rather puts our county lines theory to waste, doesn’t it,” Banks replied. “At least as far as Hollyfield Lane is concerned. It’s unlikely they’d have two trap houses here in Eastvale. Can we link the boy to Stokes at all?”

“No, guv,” said Gerry. “Not yet, at any rate. We found no trace of the backpack or jacket at his house. But Stefan’s team are still there; if there is a connection, they’ll come up with it eventually.”

“You’re thinking Howard Stokes was cuckooed, aren’t you?” Annie asked.

“It makes sense, doesn’t it?” said Banks. “Isn’t that how the county lines operate? Send in a kid to distribute the phone orders out of someone’s house. Take over his nest, like a cuckoo. Usually someone who can’t do anything about it. Someone disabled, or a vulnerable junkie like Stokes. It explains why he hadn’t been getting any methadone scripts and was managing to maintain his habit. They’d pay him in heroin.”

“But why kill him, guv?” Gerry asked. “I mean, whatever Stokes was, he wasn’t a major player. I doubt the boy was, either, even if he was involved. But Stokes did provide them with a safe and solid base to work from.”

“I don’t know. Maybe Stokes killed himself because of the cancer? There’s a lot we don’t know yet. Maybe if the Albanians are taking over . . .”

“A warning?” said Annie. “Like we thought before?”

“Or a reprisal,” said Banks. “Let’s try knocking on doors along Hollyfield Lane. There must be people still living there.”

“There are, guv,” said Gerry. “Uniform branch did a door-to-door just after we found Stokes’s body. It turned up nothing.”

“You do it again, Gerry. Even if Stokes did die of a genuine drug overdose, it doesn’t mean there was no monkey business involved. Show everyone the boy’s picture.”

“Right, guv.”

“And up Elmet Hill, too,” said Banks. “We wouldn’t want anyone to think we’re favoring the better off. There’s plenty of people living up there, and they’re not free from suspicion, even though they’ve got more money. They’ve got a Neighborhood Watch, too. It might be worth having a word with some of them. They may have seen or heard something on their wanderings.”

“OK.” Gerry glanced at Annie. “By the way, guv. DI Cabbot asked me to look into the Lisa Bartlett sexual assault again. As you know, I handled that case, talked to Lisa at the time. She was pretty upset.”

“I can imagine,” said Banks. “Poor lass. Make her part of your inquiries in the area. Have another chat with her. See if she can remember anything else. Find out if she’d ever seen our boy or knows who Stokes was.”

Gerry made a note on her pad. “Will do, guv.”