According to his file, Des Wayman lived in a two-bedroom council house on Hazel Way, just off the crescent at the Wilmer Road end of the estate. It was mid-morning when Michelle and DC Collins parked outside and walked down the path. The sky was covered in gray cloud and the air was so saturated with moisture it felt like warm drizzle. Michelle’s clothes were sticking to her, and DC Collins had taken off his suit jacket and unloosened his tie. Even so, there were damp patches under his arms. She was glad Collins was with her. He played second row for the police rugby team, and his solid presence was enough to put anyone off trying anything. As far as Michelle could make out, nobody had followed them, and she hadn’t seen any beige vans in the area.
Michelle knocked at the scratched red door of number 15. The man who opened it seemed surprised to see her. It was Des Wayman, no doubt about it. The pug nose gave him away, and the piggy eyes. He was wearing grubby jeans, with his shirt hanging out.
“Who are you? I thought it was a mate of mine,” he said with a leer. “I’m off out. But seeing as you’re here, how about coming with us for a drink?”
Michelle showed her warrant card and DC Collins followed suit. The man’s expression became wary.
“Mr. Wayman?” Michelle said.
“And what if it is?”
“We’d like a word, sir. Mind if we come in?”
“Like I said, I’m just on my way out. Can’t we talk down the pub?” He licked his lips and nodded toward the pub at the bottom of the street, the Lord Nelson. Then he looked at Collins. “And you can leave your chaperon behind.”
“It’d be better here, sir,” Michelle insisted. When Wayman made no move, she walked past him into the house. He stood and looked at her for a moment, then followed her into his living room, DC Collins right behind him.
The place was a tip, to put it mildly. Empty beer cans littered the floor, along with overflowing ashtrays. The heavy curtains were closed, allowing just enough light to illuminate the mess. The medley of smells was hard to define. Accumulated dust, stale beer and smoke, with overtones of used socks and sweat. But there was more: something vaguely sexual that turned Michelle’s stomach. She flung the curtains open and opened the window. The latter took a bit of doing, as it hadn’t been open in a long time and had jammed. DC Collins lent a hand, and the two of them finally got it open. The still, humid air outside didn’t help much, and the room looked even worse in full light.
“What are you doing?” Wayman protested. “I value my privacy. I don’t want the whole fucking estate looking through my window.”
“We value our health, Mr. Wayman,” Michelle said. “It’s already at risk just by being here, but a little fresh air might help.”
“Sarky bitch,” said Wayman, sitting down on a worn and stained sofa. “Get to the point, then, love.” He picked up a can of beer from the table and ripped the tab. Foam spilled over the top, and he licked it off before it fell to the floor.
Michelle looked around and saw no surface she felt comfortable sitting on, so she stood. By the window. “First off, don’t call me ‘love,’” she said, “and second, you’re in a bit of trouble, Des.”
“What’s new? You lot are always trying to set me up.”
“This isn’t a setup,” said Michelle, aware of DC Collins paying careful attention to her. She hadn’t explained much to him in the car; all she had said was not to take notes. He hadn’t a clue what this was all about, or how it linked to the Graham Marshall case. “It’s cut and dried.”
Wayman folded his arms. “So tell me what I’m supposed to have done.”
“Last night at approximately ten fifty-five, you and another man assaulted a man outside a riverside flat.”
“I did no such thing,” said Wayman.
“Des,” Michelle said, leaning forward. “He saw you. He picked you out of the villains’ album.”
That seemed to stop him for a moment. He frowned, and she could almost see the wheels spinning, cogs turning in his addled brain, looking for a way out, an explanation. “He must be mistaken,” he said. “His word against mine.”
Michelle laughed. “Is that the best you can do?”
“His word against mine.”
“Where were you?”
“Matter of fact, I was having a bevy or two in the Pig and Whistle.”
“Anyone see you?”
“Lots of people. It was very busy.”
“That’s not far away from where the attack took place,” said Michelle. “What time did you leave?”
“Dunno. After closing time.”
“Sure you didn’t sneak out a few minutes early and then go back for last orders?”
“And waste good drinking time? Why would I do that?”
“That’s what I’m trying to find out.”
“Not me, miss.”
“Show me your hands, Des.”
Wayman stretched his hands out, palms up.
“Turn them over.”
Wayman did as she asked.
“Where’d you get that skinned knuckle?”
“I don’t know,” said Wayman. “Must have brushed it against the wall or something.”
“And that ring you’ve got,” Michelle went on. “Sharp, I’ll bet. Sharp enough to cut someone. I bet there’ll still be traces of blood on the metal,” she said. “Enough to identify as your victim’s.”
Wayman lit a cigarette and fell silent. Even with the window open the air soon became thick with smoke. “Right,” said Michelle, “I’m sick of pissing about. DC Collins, let’s take Mr. Wayman down the station and organize an identity parade. That should settle things once and for all.”
Collins moved forward.
“Just a minute,” said Wayman. “I’m not going to no station. I’ve got an appointment. People are expecting me.”
“In your local. I know. But if you want to enjoy a nice pint this lunchtime, or any lunchtime for the next little while, you’d better tell us what we want to know.”
“But I’ve already told you. I didn’t do anything.”
“And I’ve told you. You were identified. Stop lying, Des. Do yourself a favor. Think about that nice, thirst-quenching pint sitting there on the bar at the Lord Nelson, just waiting for you.” Michelle paused to let the image sink in. She could do with a pint, herself, even though she rarely drank beer. The air was fast becoming unbreathable, and she didn’t know if she could stand it much longer. She had one last card to play before she would have to take Wayman in. “Trouble is, Des,” she said, “the man you attacked, the man who recognized you…”
“Yeah? What about him?”
“He’s a copper. He’s one of us.”
“Come off it. You’re trying it on. Trying to set me up.”
“No. It’s true. What was it you said earlier? His word against yours? Whose word do you think the judge is going to believe, Des?”
“Nobody told me-”
“Told you what?”
“Shut up. I’ve got to think.”
“You’ve not got long. Assaulting a police officer. That’s a serious charge. You’ll go down for a lot longer than nine months on that one.”
Wayman dropped his cigarette stub in the empty beer can, tossed it on the floor and opened another one. His fleshy lips were wet with foam and beer. He reached for another cigarette.
“Please don’t light another one of those, Des,” Michelle said.
“What do you mean? Surely it’s not got so bad a bloke can’t even smoke in his own house these days?”
“When we’re gone you can smoke yourself silly,” said Michelle. “That’s if we leave without you. Up to you. There’s no smoking in the holding cells anymore.”
Wayman laughed. “You know,” he said, puffing out his chest, “I’m practically one of you lot myself. I don’t know where you get off coming and pinning this assault on me when it’s police business to start with.”
Michelle felt a little shiver up her spine. “What are you talking about?”
“You know damn well what I’m talking about.” Wayman touched the side of his pug nose. “I told you, I was on police business. Undercover. Sometimes a little tap on the head and a few words of warning work wonders. It’s the way they used to do things in the old days, so I hear. And don’t tell me you don’t know what I’m talking about. Your boss certainly does.”