‘It’s a long time, though, Janey, 2004. You’d think he’d have surfaced at some point. The mother’s funeral, for instance.’

Janey shrugged. ‘He may not have known. If he was travelling.’

Clare considered this. ‘I think I’d like to find out a bit more about the Foxes. We have a warrant now to investigate their finances so I want someone on that. But we need to look wider. See if we can turn up anything at all: schools, universities, workplaces, neighbours. But discreetly, mind. This is a family grieving Russell’s death and Gaby has a high media profile.’ She smiled round at them. ‘Okay, that’s it. Keep in touch, everyone.’

She went back through to her office, Chris trailing behind. She opened the door and shivered. ‘God this room’s cold, today. Why’s it so cold?’

‘Seems okay to me,’ Chris said. ‘Turn up the radiator.’

Clare bent to do this then she looked up again. ‘I’m wondering…’

‘Yeah?’

‘Do you think we should be looking a bit closer at Luke Gasparini? His background, I mean.’

‘Wouldn’t do any harm. Want me to do that?’

‘Hm, maybe.’ She pulled her keyboard across the desk. ‘Let’s see what’s available online.’ She typed Luke’s name into a search box and thousands of results were returned, mostly about his TV work. ‘He’s busy,’ Clare said, angling the monitor so Chris could see.

He peered at it. ‘See what you mean. Says here his next series is on gun control in the USA. Press release claims they’ve secured a household name to present it. Wonder if that’ll be put on hold now.’

‘Guns again,’ Clare said. ‘We keep coming back to them.’

Her computer dinged as an email arrived. She glanced at it. ‘Oh, it’s Raymond.’ She clicked to open the email and read it quickly. ‘Dammit.’

Chris leaned across and scanned the text.

Sorry Clare – called out to another job.

Quick message to say multiple DNA profiles in the room at the homeless shelter.

It’ll take a while to sort them out.

Sorry – I know this isn’t what you wanted to hear.

I’ll be in touch if I do find a match.

R

He leaned back again. ‘Sorry, Clare.’

She sighed. ‘S’okay. I’ll just have to find another way to prove Willie’s our killer.’

Chris hesitated then said, ‘Assuming he is.’ He rose and headed for the door. ‘I’ll try the letting agency again.’

Clare watched him go and she sat on, his words running round her head.

Assuming he is.

But what if he wasn’t?

Chapter 31

‘I’ve spoken to the three men,’ Nita said.

Clare was in the kitchen, waiting for the kettle to boil. ‘Any luck?’