he told her. "They are also checking into the possibility that it might have been sold a few years ago. I got ear damage from the hours I was on the phone.""So, you're with me today, are you?""Yes—back to the Chalk Farm estate, right?"Anna sighed and picked up her briefcase. "Can you get me the lists of vehicles that Jeremy Webster recounted, as we'll also need to talk to him again."Gordon rolled his eyes. "Okay, but we've pretty well covered every listed vehicle, and traced the owner/drivers.""I am aware of that, Gordon, but maybe, just maybe there's more to get out of him!"Anna had just left the station when Phil got a call from Langton. Digging back into Fitzpatrick's past, he had discovered a previous arrest— for drunk driving—while he was at university. He had been charged, fined, and given a suspended sentence. Langton wanted them to see whether the Oxfordshire police might have retained on file Fitzpatrick's fingerprints. If that was unsuccessful, they were to contact the U.S. and see if the police there had anything that might assist in identifying their man.They still had unidentified fingerprints taken from the Mitsubishi: a part bloody thumbprint, and a smear of blood with a part palmprint.The team were taken aback at how fast Langton was moving, firing off instructions and demanding results fast. Because of the pressure, they had already arranged the surveillances and warrants; he had also requested they talk to Julia's lawyer regarding the two men seen in Wimbledon, and yet again question her financial adviser. Cunningham was handling the pressure, but appeared edgy. Phil was aware that she seemed to be sidelining Anna on yet another wild-goose chase over at the Warren Estate. He had even hinted that, with so much going on, they needed her, but got the sharp response that Travis was going to have to buckle down and work with the team. She was too close to Langton and she didn't need any one of them telling tales! The fact that Anna Travis, whether working solo or not, had brought in major results, Phil declined to mention. If the two women were in competition, then he would let them get on with it.The estate was looking even more wretched. The rain was lashing down and, as Anna parked, she could see that even more flats had been boarded up. Whether or not the flapping police cordons had put off any fresh drug dealers, the place still had a desolate feel. Deep puddles formed across the parking area, rubbish had been left out in black bin liners, and dogs or cats, or maybe vermin, had been ripping them up, so garbage was strewn everywhere.Anna hopped over the puddles with her umbrella toward Mrs. Webster's flat. Gordon followed, holding his raincoat over his head. Mrs. Webster's immaculate stone step and front door stood out among the other flats. She was very hesitant about letting them come inside, as they were both dripping from the rain. Jeremy was at work. Anna spent a few moments talking on the doorstep with Mrs. Webster before she and Gordon returned to her car and drove to Waitrose.They took a parking ticket for the Waitrose car park and drove over to the allocated parking bays. The rain was still pouring as they looked for Jeremy. There was a long line of gathered trolleys left by a wall, but no sign of him. No wonder, Anna said. He was probably taking shelter inside. Then, just as she was about to get out of the car, she saw him.He was entering from the exit gate, pushing five trolleys that had been left outside the car park. He was wearing a draped green plastic cape, the hood drawn up, almost hiding his face, and shiny black rubber overshoes, as he plodded through the puddles. Anna told Gordon to approach him and ask if they could talk to him for a few moments. She watched as Gordon hurried over to Jeremy; he didn't appear to even acknowledge him, but continued pushing his row of trolleys, collecting two more.Gordon returned to the car and got in beside Anna. "Well, he's a hard one to have a conversation with. He said he was working and couldn't talk to me, or anyone else.""Go and speak to the manager; see if they have a staff room we can»use.Gordon sighed. "Okay."She watched him trudge back across the car park and go into the store itself. He was gone for over ten minutes but then reappeared with a large blond woman, who went to talk to Jeremy while Gordon came back to Anna. "They've got a staff room at the rear of the store; we can use that. She'll give him an early tea break—she said he won't go in there unless it's for his tea break."The manageress led them through the aisles toward the staff quarters. Two assistants were having coffee when they entered; the manageress said they could finish their break in her office.Jeremy walked in and gave the two assistants a beaming smile. "Hello, Pauline.""Hello,Jay.""Hello, Carol.""Hi, Jay. Bit wet out there for you today."He looked genuinely pleased to see the two women; then his face became stern as he carefully removed his wet cloak. He took it to a peg, hung it up, and then removed his rubber overshoes. Anna was sitting at one of the tables, Gordon standing. Jeremy crossed to the small kitchen area and took a mug with his name on it. He checked it was clean, and then took an age to measure sugar, milk, and use the tea urn. He still had not even glanced at Anna; he passed Gordon to place his mug down on another table. He took out from his pocket a packet of disinfectant wipes to clean the table, but only the area he was going to use. He then placed down his mug, walked to a rubbish bin, and deposited his wipe."Mr. Webster," Anna said quietly. He ignored her as he took out a small plastic container and placed it next to his mug. He sat down and carefully opened it to remove two biscuits, which he set down side by side. "Mr. Webster, we met when I came to see you at your home."Jeremy nodded and bit into one of his biscuits. "I am on my tea break.""I really need to talk to you, and you were very helpful."He didn't look at her, chewing with a studied look on his face."It's about the lists of cars you provided for our investigation."He sipped his tea."We've been able to trace almost all of them.You really did a great job. If you don't mind, I would just like to check over a couple of things."Gordon glanced at Anna; she could have been talking to the wall. Jeremy finished his second biscuit, carefully picking up the crumbs, then he sipped his tea. Anna had to sit patiently as he washed up his mug, placed it back on the hook, and washed his hands.She tried again. "The manageress said that we could have a few moments to talk to you."He still did not make eye contact. Instead he took a deep breath, sighing and staring at the floor. "What do you want?"Anna tried to explain as quickly as possible the reason she was there, and how much she appreciated him talking to her and helping their inquiry. She took out the list of car number plates he had passed on to her, and asked if there were any more, or anything he could tell her about the vehicles."They were illegally parked," he said."Yes, I know.""They are not from the estate; they do not have parking permits.""Yes, we know that." Anna had highlighted the vehicles whose owners she had interviewed. "Is there anything else you could help me with?"He didn't want to handle the piece of paper, so she laid it flat on the table."I mean, maybe you saw the cars there more than one time?"Jeremy glanced down and stared at the rows of numbers. He then lifted his left hand, pulled back the sleeve of his sweater to look at a large watch, then pulled his sleeve back and straightened it. "You see, Mr. Webster, we have not as yet been able to identify the people using the flat to sell drugs."He walked back to his rain cape and shook it out. He stepped into his rubbers like a dancer. Anna glanced at Gordon and rolled her eyes."Can I help you with that?" Gordon said, with his hands out toward the cape.Jeremy swished it aside like a bullfighter. "No."The sheet of paper fluttered to the floor. Jeremy stepped forward to pick it up. Anna thought he was going to put it into the bin, but he replaced it onto the table and returned to fastening his rain cape.He didn't actually point; it was more an odd jerk up and down of his right index finger. "Six-twenty-one APS," he said as he pulled up his hood.Anna looked to Gordon, trying to check which of the rows of numbers he was referring to. Then he repeated the date, time, and month in numbers only, and repeated the time—8:07—then he turned and swung open the door, walking out."Shit! Which car—did you get the number?" Gordon said.Anna glanced down the paper. "Here you go—621 APS .. .Eddie Court, our witness for the tall man in the smart shoes in the Mitsubishi.""He also identified Frank Brandon," Gordon said."Right; he admitted to being at the squat late that night, but Jeremy just stated that earlier time of seven minutes past eight.""Well, if you can trust what he says," Gordon scoffed."He came up with all these, didn't he?""Yeah, I know.""Ifjeremy's correct, that little bastard was lying: he went to the squat twice in one night." Jeremy was back pushing the trolleys, all neat and perfectly lined up, staring ahead as his eyes caught sight of a stray trolley a few yards across the car park. Anna smiled and waved, but his brilliant blue eyes gave no hint of recognition as he herded them back for the shoppers to use.