‘Trust me, mate, if Shirl had known, she’d have had my balls for earrings, and there is no way she’d have been friends with Toni. My wife is someone you don’t want to mess with. She don’t take no prisoners, if you know what I mean.’ And Barrett believed he did.

16

1.30pm 25 June

‘That was the single worst thing I’ve ever had to do.’ Elly sat in the passenger seat of the car, next to Palmer, staring out of the windscreen with a dazed expression.

‘It doesn’t get any easier.’

‘Well that’s good to know. Remind me why I wanted to become a police officer?’ She reached into her bag, removed a bottle of water, and took a swig, leaving a lipstick mark, before offering it to Palmer, who declined.

‘He was so young. Who’s going to look after him now?’

‘Technically, he’s an adult.’ Palmer frowned.

‘Poor kid, and on his birthday of all days.’ Elly took another sip of water. Outside, the sun was high in the cloudless sky and the car was sweltering in the heat.

‘Back to the station,’ Palmer said, turning on the engine. He cranked up the air conditioning so high that it was deafening and blew Elly’s hair across her face.

‘He’s got his grandmother.’ Elly tried to reassure herself that Dean would be OK. She didn’t like the idea of the boy being alone in the depressing flat they had just visited. ‘But he’ll probably lose his home,’ she said, wondering if that was such a bad thing.

‘Place was a dump,’ Palmer added.

‘Yes, it was grotty.’ Elly closed her eyes, enjoying the cold air that was blowing into her face. ‘Do we think it could be suicide?’ she asked suddenly.

‘From the description of her injuries it would seem highly unlikely,’ Palmer said, knowing full well why Elly had suggested it.

‘I suppose we will know more when the pathologist has had more time with the body.’ Elly fanned herself with her hand, watching the world go by.

‘Pity the boy couldn’t tell us any more about where his mother had been. It’s an odd case, I’ll say that much.’

‘How many women were at the book club, who we’ve yet to interview?’

‘I think four of them. No doubt the boss will want to talk to Shirley Grubb before too long. I wonder how his talk went with Grant.’

‘We’ll find out soon enough,’ Elly said, as the car pulled into the Parkside police station car park.

‘Mum’s dead.’ His hand shook as he held his mobile phone to his ear. ‘Did you hear me, Nan? Mum’s dead.’