Frankie said a silent prayer as the screw led her towards the room where DI Blyth was waiting for her. Surely if there was a God, he would ensure Jed got punished for what he had done to her grandfather, she thought to herself.

As soon as Frankie saw Blyth, she knew whatever news she had was not good. ‘Well?’ she asked impatiently as she sat down opposite the DI.

Blyth took Frankie’s hands in her own. She had grown to like the young girl sitting in front of her very much, but there was no point in dressing up the awful truth. Frankie was far too clued-up to believe any bullshit.

‘The results are back and there is insufficient DNA on the samples we tested to give a positive identification to anybody. I’m so sorry, Frankie, I really am.’

Wanting to cry, Frankie chose not to and decided to be stroppy instead. She snatched her hands away from Blyth’s. ‘Can you repeat that in English now?’ she asked sarcastically.

Blyth explained the situation in simplified terms. ‘Look, I know this is a setback, but I can assure you that nobody is giving up on this case. The superintendent in charge is doing his utmost, I promise you that. He was only saying this morning that he is going to try to get a reconstruction of your grandad’s murder on that TV programme, Crimewatch UK. Have you ever watched it, Frankie? It’s presented by Nick Ross and Sue Cook and it’s really good at jogging people’s memories and subsequently getting convictions.’

Frankie was far too disappointed and inwardly upset to discuss some poxy TV programme. She stood up. ‘I like you, so please don’t take this personally, but my dad has always said that the police were useless and the only thing they could catch was a cold and do you know what, I make him fucking right.’

Turning on her heel, Frankie stormed out of the room.

Gary, Ricky and Raymond were all elated to hear that Jed had now met his maker. Even though Stuart had never met Jed, he was also thrilled because he knew how the bloke had torn Eddie’s family apart.

‘So Baldwin was absolutely sure he was dead?’ Raymond asked.

‘Yep, he was positive. He blasted him three times in the head, apparently at close range and he even said he was sure he saw his brains splatter against the windscreen.’

‘What brains?’ Gary exclaimed, laughing.

‘Let’s have a drink to celebrate, eh?’ Ricky said, grabbing a bottle of Scotch from the cabinet.

‘We had the local news on the radio on the way up ’ere. There’s nothing on there yet,’ Gary said.

‘Me and Stu did an’ all. I reckon it’s a bit early for anything to be announced. They’ve probably still got the forensics round there fuck-arsing about,’ Eddie replied.