‘We’ve interviewed family and friends, his ex-wife too, who confirmed he was abusive. We also know he had been drinking and taking drugs. He clearly has his demons. We are putting everything into finding him, but it’s almost as if he has vanished into thin air.’

Pierce lets out a heavy sigh. ‘Do whatever it takes to find him.’

Archer blinks and waits for Pierce to reveal her new evidence, but the DCI picks up her coat and bag and turns to leave. ‘Ma’am, you said you had new evidence from the scene at the Greenwich Peninsula?’

All heads turn to look at Pierce.

‘I’m afraid not,’ she replies. ‘I’d like to speak with you privately, please.’

Archer addresses the team. ‘That’s all for now. If anyone is unsure of what is expected of them, please let me know.’

Archer follows the DCI to her office.

‘There is new evidence, however, it’s highly sensitive and will shake things up for the public and unfortunately the government. Forensics have found fingerprints on one of the cabinets. It seems the killer isn’t so thorough as he likes to think. They have been matched to Lewis Faulkner. Faulkner is now our number one suspect. I want you and Quinn to concentrate your efforts on tracking him down. I’ve issued his arrest warrant. That should be enough to get access to his apartment. Not a word to anyone else about this.’

‘I’ll need Klara to come in on this.’

Pierce nods her agreement. ‘That’ll be all, DI Archer.’

Archer leaves the DCI’s office and catches Quinn’s eye. She points towards Klara’s hub and he follows her there. She closes the door behind her and repeats Pierce’s news.

‘This is just between us,’ she says. ‘Klara, I’ll need you to look over Faulkner’s ANPR and phone records again. Perhaps there is something we missed. Also I need the address of his apartment in Soho.’

‘Of course.’ Klara’s long fingers rattle across the keyboard. ‘He lives in Paramount House on Wardour Street. Very fancy.’

‘He’s from old money. Wouldn’t expect anything less,’ says Quinn.

‘There is a twenty-four-hour porter who can give you access.’

Archer looks to Quinn. ‘Let’s see what we can find.’

*

They make the journey by foot to Wardour Street and stop outside Paramount House, a stylish seven-storey block, built in the 1930s. Archer feels an odd sense of nostalgia mixed with regret. ‘This used to be the UK headquarters for Paramount Studios. My dad and I would walk past here sometimes and he would tell me about the movie stars he’d seen arriving and leaving this building when he was growing up. It always seemed like a magical place to me. It was probably just an office full of accountants and pen pushers, but it was nice to have that fantasy.’