‘Yes, sir. Which two officers do you want?’
‘I don’t give a toss — any two will do. I’ll be in my office and get someone to bring me a coffee,’ said Bradfield, raising his voice, impatient now to search the house.
Just over an hour passed before all the guests were gone. Jane was about to inform Bradfield when he walked in snapping an elastic band between his fingers as he approached her.
‘I want you on the search to deal with Mrs Collins as she’s likely to have a nervous breakdown when she hears why we’re there. Here, for you — tie your hair back, Veronica.’
He flicked the elastic band onto her desk and she looked at him, puzzled.
‘Veronica Lake was a movie star who always had her long hair loose. Oh never mind, she was well before your time anyway,’ he said, and went to his office to get his jacket.
Kath looked over with raised eyebrows.
‘Getting on well with the guv, I see? Sergeant Harris’s nose will be even more out of joint. What exactly is the big development?’
Jane was collecting her bag from the drawer and was about to explain everything to Kath when she heard a loud whistle from the corridor and Bradfield’s voice.
‘Come on, come on, let’s go, Veronica!’
When they arrived at the Collinses’ house there were no cars in the drive and the garage door was shut. Bradfield spoke with the two detectives assisting him and they all walked up the path together. He rang the doorbell and stepped back with the warrant in his hand. The sound of a dog barking went on for a few moments before George Collins opened the door. He was wearing an apron and rubber gloves, and looked taken aback. Bradfield explained that he had a search warrant and that he needed to speak to him.
‘It really isn’t convenient — my wife is sleeping and I have to finish the washing up. We’re both very tired—’
‘I’m sure you’d rather I spoke with you here than down at the station, Mr Collins,’ Bradfield said in a stern manner as he stepped into the house forcing Mr Collins to move backwards.
‘What’s happening? Is this to do with my daughter? Have you got some new information?’ Collins asked nervously.
Bradfield didn’t answer his question but introduced the two detectives and told the uniform officer to remain by the front door. Jane thought it strange that a clearly agitated Mr Collins didn’t even ask why they wanted to search his house. He just led them into the living room which had now been cleared of all the glasses and dirty plates.
He started to remove his apron. ‘I won’t be a moment. I need to let the dog out as he scratches at the door.’
Bradfield made him even more uneasy as he followed him into the kitchen where there was a small white elderly terrier who yapped for a moment before he was put out into the garden. Mr Collins removed his rubber gloves and tossed them onto the side of the sink. Rows of wine glasses had been rinsed and neatly placed on the draining board ready to be dried.
As they both returned to the lounge Mr Collins rolled down his shirtsleeves, buttoning the cuffs.
‘My wife is sleeping,’ he repeated, looking as if he didn’t really understand what was going on.
‘My officers need to search Julie Ann’s room.’
He looked surprised. ‘Why?’
‘We didn’t do it before because she hadn’t been home for over a year. It’s just in case there are any little notes, bits of paper, etc — anything that might help us track down her killer as it could have been someone she’s known for years.’
Collins said her room was second on the left upstairs and sat nervously on a wing chair by the fireplace, his bony hands clenched together.
A relaxed Bradfield gestured for Jane to sit on the sofa as he stood in front of the fireplace. She was interested as to how he was going to approach questioning Mr Collins and the news that he was now a suspect in his daughter’s murder.
DS Lawrence popped his head into the living room and Bradfield introduced him to Mr Collins before taking him to one side and saying he wanted Paul to start on the Bristol car which was in the garage. Lawrence said he’d have a cursory look at the carpet, but to give it a thorough examination he’d need to have it removed to the lab.
Bradfield turned back to Mr Collins. ‘DS Lawrence will need to take a carpet sample from inside your car, so if you could give him the keys we can make a start.’
‘What on earth for?’
‘We have a witness who saw your daughter getting into a vehicle of a similar colour and shape to yours, and we also found red carpet fibres on her clothing,’ he said, and paused to gauge Collins’ reaction.
‘They could have got on her when she was last home,’ Mr Collins said defensively.
‘Well, according to you and your wife that was well over a year ago and it would be unlikely any fibres from your car would still be on her,’ DS Lawrence remarked.
‘Then why do you need to examine it?’
Bradfield spoke quietly, lying. ‘It’s just for elimination purposes and standard procedure in this sort of case. Now if you would kindly give us the keys to your car we can make a start.’
Collins replied that the keys were in the cutlery drawer in the kitchen. He also expressed great concern about any of the carpet being cut as it was in perfect condition and he would like to be present to witness any damage, should it occur.
Bradfield looked at DS Lawrence who was experienced enough to realize he wanted to be on his own with Mr Collins.
Lawrence produced a roll of clear Sellotape from his bag and said that he would take tape liftings of the car’s carpet fibres, and that way there would be no need for a cutting. Lawrence turned to Jane and told her she could assist him to see how it was done. She would like to have stayed and listened to Bradfield question Mr Collins: since the post-mortem and Harker lecture forensics had fascinated her and she was loath to miss the opportunity to learn something new.
‘Can you let the dog back in, please, and shut the kitchen door so he can’t get out?’ Mr Collins requested as Jane left the room.
Bradfield opened his notebook and began flicking back through the pages.
‘Had you in fact seen your daughter Julie Ann more recently?’
‘No,’ Collins replied unconvincingly and his Adam’s apple moved up and down his neck.
‘That’s a lie, isn’t it?’
Collins twisted his head, but did not respond.
‘Don’t make this difficult for me — for your own good it’s time you started telling the truth, so no more lies.’
‘I am telling you the truth.’
‘Did you pick her up outside Homerton Hospital about two weeks ago?’
‘I swear to you I didn’t! I don’t even know where Homerton Hospital is.’
‘Well, how do you explain the same colour fibres from your car getting onto her clothes?’
‘I don’t know. Maybe she got into another car with the same type of carpet.’
Jane walked back into the room as Bradfield was about to challenge Mr Collins on his remark.
‘Excuse me, sir...’
‘I’m busy talking to Mr Collins, Tennison,’ Bradfield said sharply without even turning to look at her.
‘I’m sorry, but—’
‘Wait outside,’ he said, raising his voice as he glared at her.
His abruptness made Jane nervous, even though she was only doing as asked. ‘DS Lawrence wants to speak with you.’
Bradfield was irritated, but he knew if Paul Lawrence wanted him he must have discovered something important.
‘Stay with Mr Collins,’ he said as he stomped out of the room.
DS Lawrence was standing by the car in the garage. He had a magnifying glass in one hand and was examining a single strip of taped fibres he had lifted from the boot carpet.