Everett nods. `If he wanted to cover his tracks `“ why not.'
`Which leaves us with two possibilities,' says Somer. `Either Brotherton knows exactly who borrowed his van that day but is protecting him or he doesn't know anything about it and never did. He was at the funeral for most of the day so it's not impossible.'
The kettle has boiled but I'm not interested in tea. `OK, let's get him in. The witness sighting is more than enough to justify that.'
`Though we need to remember Brotherton has no criminal record,' adds Ev, flushing slightly. `Not even speeding. As far as I can tell he just looks after his grandad and does his job `“'
`So much the better. He has more to lose.'
* * *
The search for Sasha Blake resumed at first light. It's been a gruelling and thankless few hours since then, with nothing to show for it. Sergeant Barnetson is now directing the group working along the river; there are two more teams covering the fields to the north. At least they don't have the press breathing down their necks any more. Someone from the Oxford Mail tried to ambush him for a comment about the Roadside Rapist when he arrived, but Barnetson's not stupid. He's not going to get mugged into saying something that ends up on the evening news.
His mobile throbs against his thigh and crackles into life. He tugs his glove off and fishes the phone out from under his waterproofs.
`Barnetson? It's Gislingham `“ just wanted to check in. See if you've got anything.'
`All I've `њgot`ќ is wet feet and a cold arse. But thanks for asking.'
`How about the press?'
`Couple of hacks in the car park, one or two camera guys, but we're keeping them behind the tape. And right now, I can't see many of 'em volunteering to get up to their balls in mud. The weather's on our side on that, if nothing else. Though you know as well as I do how quickly that could change.'
He doesn't need to spell it out: a search site thronged with hacks will mean only one thing.
* * *
Adam Fawley
5 April 2018
11.48
We offer him tea, but he refuses.
`Grandad says you'd get forensics off it `“ prints and that. He says you have to be careful.'
`We have to be careful too,' I say, taking my seat opposite him. `And one of the things we're particularly careful about is checking our facts.'
He looks confused. `I'm not with you.'
I open my file. He glances at it, and then back at me. Something flickers across his eyes.
`You told my colleague DC Everett that you were at your grandmother's funeral on the morning of April 1st.'
`Yeah `“ like I said `“'
`You also said no one else could have had access to your van when you were in Headington, at the service.'
He frowns. `Yeah, so?'
I glance up at him. `Which leaves me with a puzzle. You see, a witness has now come forward to say she saw your van on the Marston Ferry Road that morning. Perhaps you can help me with that?'
Brotherton opens his mouth then closes it again. `Do I need a lawyer or what?'
`You can have one, if you wish,' I reply. `If you think you need one.'
I stare at him; he stares at me. He blinks first.
`Yeah,' he says. `I reckon that'd be a good idea.'
* * *
Interview with Ashley Brotherton, conducted at St Aldate's Police Station, Oxford
5 April 2018, 12.42 p.m.
In attendance, DI A. Fawley, DC E. Somer, J. Hoskins (solicitor)
AF: So, Mr Brotherton, as I was saying before your lawyer arrived, you told DC Everett that no one else could possibly have been driving your van on the morning of April 1st, and yet it was spotted by a member of the public on the Marston Ferry Road. Perhaps you could explain that for us?AB: They must've got it wrong.AF: You're saying the witness was mistaken?AB: Must be.AF: It had to be your van.AB: Ramsgate have loads of vans. Could have been any of 'em.ES: According to Ramsgate they're all accounted for. They were all signed in at the Bicester site by eight that morning.AB: Well, I've been thinking and I reckon Martyn was on holiday. It could have been him.ES: Martyn?AB: Martyn Ramsgate.ES: Your boss's son?AB: Yeah.ES: We'll double-check, but as far as Pauline Ramsgate is concerned all the vans were on-site.AB: Yeah, well she's going to lie for her own kid, ain't she.AF: Who would you lie for, Mr Brotherton?AB: What the fuck does that mean?ES: You've never lent your van to anyone?AB: Nope.AF: No one else has access to the keys?AB: No. Like I said the first time `“ to that other bint.AF: All right, Mr Brotherton. We'll leave it there for the moment. The officer will show you to a waiting room where you can be a bit more comfortable.* * *
Adam Fawley
5 April 2018
12.58
The uniformed PC ushers Brotherton and his solicitor out, and when the door closes behind them, Somer turns to me. `What do you think?'
`What do I think? I think he's lying through his teeth.'
Somer nods. `I know `“ I agree. I just can't work out why. He has a rock-solid alibi for both attacks, and he knows it. We can't touch him for either of them, so why take such a huge risk to protect someone else?'
We sit there for a moment in silence. There are muffled sounds of voices from the interview room next door. Whoever's in there, things are obviously getting heated.
`Perhaps the witness was wrong about the van,' says Somer at last. `She did say she couldn't be completely sure about that logo.'
And eye-witness accounts are notoriously unreliable. We all know that.
`OK, let's go through the motions of confirming where Martyn Ramsgate was that morning. I'd bet my mortgage he has nothing to do with it, but we still need to check.'
She nods and makes a note.
`And start asking around `“ see if any of Brotherton's friends has any sort of record. And get Ramsgate's permission for a full forensic search of that van.'
* * *
When Ev pops out for a sandwich the old man is sitting in reception, hunched on a hard plastic chair, in the cold draught from the front door.
`Mr Brotherton?' she says. `It's Verity Everett, do you remember me?'
He looks up at her tetchily. `Of course I remember you. I'm not bloody senile.'
He has a newspaper open on his lap, and Everett can see that his hands are trembling slightly.
`You must have been here for hours. Is there anything we can get you? Tea?'
He frowns. `I've had three cups already. How much longer is Ash going to be?'
`I'm not sure. I wasn't in on the interview.'
He looks at his watch. It's an old-fashioned one with a snakeskin strap and a white face yellowed with age. `I've got an appointment at the JR in half an hour and we're already cutting it fine. Ash said he'd run me.'
`Oh,' says Everett. `I didn't realize. Let me check.'
She goes over to the phone on the front desk and calls Somer, but when she comes back her face is rueful. `I'm afraid your grandson is still being interviewed. And his van is being taken in for forensic testing.'
The old man frowns. `So how am I going to get to the hospital? It'll take me half an hour just to get to the bloody bus stop.'
But this, at least, is something she can fix.
`Give me a minute and I'll see if we can sort you out a lift.'
* * *
Interview with Ashley Brotherton, conducted at St Aldate's Police Station, Oxford
5 April 2018, 1.50 p.m.
In attendance, DI A. Fawley, DC E. Somer, J. Hoskins (solicitor)