‘That “same” hair cannot be matched to Faulkner!’ Davis looks to Krish. ‘Forensics will tell you that formaldehyde affects the accuracy of a DNA reading. True, Mr Anand?’

‘That is very true. It can make the DNA unreliable.’

‘A weird coincidence with those hairs being almost identical,’ says Quinn.

Archer interjects. ‘The hairs found on the hands of two of the victims, and in the mouth of the third victim suggests a struggle with Lewis Faulkner.’

‘That’s absurd! Lewis Faulkner isn’t a violent man.’

Archer thinks if she bites her tongue any harder it will bleed.

‘We don’t yet know the nature of the struggle, or if there even was one. We’re keeping all options on the table for now. Sir Peter, have you noticed anything unusual about Mr Faulkner recently? A change in his behaviour or moods?’

All eyes turn to Davis, waiting for his answer. After a pause he says, ‘He’s been drinking. More than usual.’

‘I see,’ says Quinn. ‘And, Mr Davis, would you say Lewis is the creative type? Does he enjoy viewing art, or perhaps making it?’

Archer hears Pierce sigh.

Davis glares at him. ‘Just do your bloody job and find him!’ he snaps.

DCI Pierce places her hand on Davis’s arm. ‘Thank you, Peter. I will call you later once we learn more.’

He nods curtly before adding, ‘Not a word of this to the press. This is a bloody bombshell waiting to explode.’

‘Of course,’ says Pierce.

‘A blond bombshell,’ adds Quinn.

Pierce and Davis shoot him withering looks.

Davis shakes his head and leaves.

As the door closes behind him, DCI Pierce asks, ‘Could Faulkner be our man?’

‘It’s possible,’ replies Archer. ‘He’s big and strong enough.’

‘He’s a big lad all right. He has what I like to call a clumsy waistline.’

Krish snorts.

‘Harry, please stop,’ says Pierce.

‘Sorry, ma’am. Stopping now.’

‘If Faulkner is our man, what’s his motive?’ asks Pierce.

‘What do we know about him?’ asks Archer. ‘He has a difficult past from what I can recall: the rebellious son of a blustering loud Conservative politician, Alexander Faulkner. Lewis Faulkner’s privilege, his drug use and his alleged abuse against girlfriends were all over the news almost twenty years back, I believe. He disappeared for a few years before returning to the limelight, following in his father’s footsteps as an MP and is now apparently a newly reformed character.’

‘That remains to be seen,’ says Pierce.

‘He writes toxic columns and tweets usually about groups he doesn’t much care for, like the homeless, Asians, Muslims, gays . . . you name it. He never has much to say about art, though,’ says Krish.

‘To look at that benign smile you’d think butter wouldn’t melt,’ says Quinn, peering down at the picture in the Forensics file.

‘He’s our only lead right now,’ says Archer.