She pushes the door open slowly. Patsie is sprawled sideways against the pillows, her face turned away. Sasha's old teddy bear is clutched to her chest and even though she knows she's not her daughter, Fiona feels her heart buckle at the resemblance. The same ponytail, the same pyjamas; Patsie must have bought an identical pair. It wouldn't surprise her `“ the two of them were completely inseparable. She wonders for a moment whether Patsie would like some of Sasha's things, to remember her by. The clothes would be too small, but there's the make-up, the handbags, the shoes. After all, Sasha has no need for any of them now `“ surely it'd be a good thing if they could make someone else happy. Especially someone who loved her.
And if Patsie doesn't want any of it she'll give it all to charity. She doesn't want this room turning into a shrine. Frozen in time, gathering dust, colder and bleaker and further away every time she opens the door. That's why she likes having Patsie here. She keeps the place warm, lived-in. Alive.
She moves quickly towards the bed, turns out the light and tiptoes back to the door, closing it gently behind her.
* * *
`No, that's fine. If you were out of the country I can confirm it with the Border Agency.'
Everett puts the phone down and grimaces. She's had two coffees this morning but she could already do with another.
`Trouble?' asks Somer.
`Well, let's just say Gavin Parrie's family aren't overly pleased at being asked to confirm their whereabouts by the people they blame for banging him up in the first place.'
Somer makes a face in return. `I bet they're not.'
Everett sits back. `If you ask me, the idea of Parrie hiring a hitman is bloody ludicrous. Like The Sopranos in Aylesbury.'
Somer grins and turns back to her screen. She's been liaising with the press office about the TV reconstruction. They'd been struggling to find a girl who looked enough like Sasha, but one of her classmates has just come forward. Or rather her mother has. On the basis `“ apparently `“ that it could be her little darling's big break: little Jemima wants to be an actress. Human beings, thinks Somer, they never fail to live down to your expectations.
`What do you think of her?' she says eventually, glancing across at Everett. `Gallagher, I mean.'
`Seems OK. Fair. Bright. I don't think she's out to dump on Fawley if that's what you're asking.'
`No, I didn't get that impression either. Poor sod `“ he doesn't deserve this.'
Ev looks up. `Yeah, I know. And as for his wife `“ imagine what she's going through. As if losing your child wasn't bad enough, now all this shit is coming back to haunt her.'
Somer bites her lip. It's what happened to Alex Fawley in the first place that haunts her. Even if it was only `“ even if that man didn't actually `“
`And let's face it,' says Everett, breaking into her thoughts, `you can totally understand Fawley. Who wouldn't want to keep that man inside, in his position.'
But that, of course, is the whole point.
* * *
Sent: Sun 07/04/2018, 11.15 Importance: HighFrom: DCGarethQuinn@ThamesValley.police.uk To: DSChrisGislingham@ThamesValley.police.uk,
CID@ThamesValley.police.ukcc: DIRuthGallagher@ThamesValley.police.uk Subject: Graeme Scott `“ URGENTJust heard back from the local council in the Brecon Beacons `“ we've got an address for Scott's cottage. It's near some godforsaken place called Ffrwdgrech (and yes, that is how you spell it). He's had it since 1995. The key point is that late last year he applied for planning permission for some fairly extensive renovations that include knocking down some interior walls. And according to the last Building Inspector's report he's doing the work himself.We're bringing him in again. I've also applied for warrants for the cottage and the Oxford house, and for the car. And I reckon we're going to get them.GQ* * *
Interview with Graeme Scott, conducted at St Aldate's Police Station, Oxford
7 April 2018, 2.50 p.m.
In attendance, DS C. Gislingham, DC G. Quinn, Mrs D. Owen (solicitor)
CG: For the benefit of the tape, Mr Scott was arrested at 1.15 this afternoon on suspicion of involvement in the abduction and murder of Sasha Alice Blake. A full forensic search is underway at Mr Scott's home in Oxford and on his car, and Dyfed-Powys Police are carrying out a similar search at his property in Wales. Mr Scott is accompanied for this interview by his solicitor, Mrs Deborah Owen.GS: I've already told you, I had absolutely nothing to do with any of this. I was at home Wednesday night, and I've never touched Sasha Blake. And as for that Faith Appleton girl, or whatever her name is, I told you before I've never even heard of her `“CG: [pushes across a photograph]She lives less than a mile from you and uses the bus stop on Cherwell Drive. You've almost certainly seen her in the vicinity, even if you don't know her name.GS: [pushing the photo away]
I told you already `“ I've never seen her before in my life.CG: The cottage in Wales `“ you're renovating it, I believe.GS: [warily]
Yes, so what?CG: You're doing the work yourself?GS: It's the only way I can afford it.CG: Including specialist jobs like electrics and plasterwork?GS: Yes, with the odd helping hand every now and again. But I still don't see `“CG: When we did a forensic analysis of Faith Appleford's clothes, we found minute traces of plaster dust. I suspect we will find exactly the same compound in the back of your car.GS: I'm sure you will. But all that will prove is that I've done some sodding plastering. What you will not bloody well find is any DNA from that Faith girl, or from Sasha Blake for that matter. Not unless you plant it your bloody selves. Because they were never there `“CG: Faith told us there was some sort of loose covering on the floor of the vehicle. We're assuming that her attacker laid down either plastic sheeting or a tarpaulin, to prevent the transfer of physical evidence. So even if we don't find the girls' DNA, it doesn't mean they weren't there.DO: That's not evidence, Sergeant.CG: No. But this is.
[shows witness an evidence bag]
Do you recognize this, Mr Scott?GS: [silence]CG: Mr Scott?GS: [silence]CG: For the tape, the item is a girl's hair elastic. It's pink, with a small flower and a bit of diamantГ© in the middle. This struck us as a very odd thing for you to have, Mr Scott.GS: [silence]CG: Do you have a daughter? A niece?GS: You know damn well I don't.CG: So how do you account for it?DO: Where was this found, Sergeant?GQ: In Mr Scott's locker at Summertown High. The head gave us permission to search it.GS: Look, I found it, OK?DO: Has this item been conclusively identified as belonging to either of the two girls?GQ: We're awaiting DNA results, but Sasha's mother says her daughter definitely had one just like this, which she can't now find. So it's looking pretty likely, if you ask me.GS: Like I said, I found it. It was at school, after a class. That's why it was in the locker.CG: Did you know it was Sasha's?GS: [flustered]
I don't know. I might have done.CG: So why not give it back to her? Or at the very least hand it to Lost Property?GS: I don't know. Look, I must have just stuffed it in my pocket. I forgot all about the bloody thing.GQ: Er, I don't think so, mate.GS: I'm not your `mate' `“GQ: You took it out of your pocket and put it in your locker, where you'd see it half a dozen times a day. That doesn't sound like `forgetting all about it' to me.DO: Either way, it doesn't prove my client was involved in any way with Sasha Blake's tragic death. The fact that he was in possession of the hair tie `“ assuming it is indeed ascertained to be hers `“ would be significant if and only if she was wearing it when she went missing. Do you have any evidence of that?CG: [pause]No, we don't.DO: But you must have a description of what she had on at the time? Does it include this hair tie?CG: [pause]