Banks gave him a dirty look. “Watch it, Mr. Carver,” he said. “That was uncalled for.”

“Sorry,” said Carver.

“Are you suggesting that one of the family killed Mimosa?” Annie asked.

“All I’m saying is it’s a good place to start. Better than Sunny’s Kebab and Pizza. You could do worse than have a chat with the social and school authorities, too. Wytherton Comprehensive. Lovely place. Shoo-in for Oxford.” He paused. “You admit you don’t know who actually murdered the girl. All I’m saying is look close to home. Isn’t that the way it usually is? Her brother Albert’s a yobbo for a start. He’s broken a window or two on the Strip in his time, usually after a skinful of ale? He wouldn’t like it if he’d heard she’s been shagging Pakis.”

“I won’t tell you again, Mr. Carver,” said Banks. “There’s no room for that sort of crudeness here. A bit more respect. According to our forensic evidence, the girl you’re talking about was raped.”

“Doesn’t mean she hadn’t done it willingly at some point. Perhaps you’d like me to assign a couple of my local CID officers to help you with your inquiries in Wytherton?” Carver went on, pushing his luck.

“We can handle it,” said Annie.

“I don’t think that will be necessary,” said Banks. “It’s a Homicide and Major Crimes case. We may consult on occasion, should the need arise.”

Carver gritted his teeth. “If you say so.”

“I think that’s all for now,” Banks said. “You know your next actions, DI Cabbot, DC Masterson. Tear the Moffat house apart and find Albert Jr.”

IT WAS another warm day in Wytherton, though much less muggy, and the smell of decomposing rubbish polluted the air. The garbagemen had been on strike for more than a week now, Gerry had learned, and there seemed to be no end in sight. She had spent a good part of her morning on the phone and discovered that Les Moffat, Mimosa’s birth father, had died of liver disease two years ago and that Eddie Mallard, the ex-boyfriend of Sinead’s who had molested Mimosa, had been stabbed in a prison brawl four years ago. She had also got through to one of Mimosa’s teachers, who told her that Mimosa was naturally bright but didn’t apply herself enough. She could have done a lot better if she had tried, but then, Gerry thought, couldn’t we all. There had been attendance issues lately and Mimosa had paid more than one visit to the head teacher’s office. She had also been warned over the use of racial slurs. That seemed odd to Gerry, but perhaps if Mimsy was in a relationship with a group of Asian groomers, then it was a form of camouflage.