‘It fits,’ Janet said, ‘it all works.’
‘Don’t mess it up,’ Rachel said.
What the…? Janet stared at her. ‘Me, mess it up? I’m not the one you want to worry about. Did you listen to a word-’
‘Just saying,’ Rachel retorted, ‘we’re nearly there. If you-’
‘Zip it,’ Janet said.
‘I only meant we’re so close-’
‘The hole’s deep enough. Stop digging.’
Unlike his father, Connor Tandy was prepared to answer questions. If only his mother would let him get a word in edgeways. She’d interrupted twice already, running him down, and Janet had to ask her to be quiet and let him talk.
‘You had your knife,’ Janet prompted him.
‘Yes. And we had some fuel for the barbie out the back. I took that and an old wine bottle and a bit of cloth. My lighter.’
‘Anything else?’ Janet said.
He thought. ‘A bag to carry it all and some gloves. In case of fingerprints.’
Janet nodded, non-judgemental, as if they were discussing the weather or bus timetables. She placed a photograph of Greg Tandy’s holdall on the desk and the gloves in their protective bag.
‘I am now showing Connor exhibit MG10 and exhibit MG16. Are these the gloves and the bag?’
‘Yes,’ he said.
‘Your dad’s?’ Mrs Tandy said. ‘You stupid little idiot. What the fuck did you use his for?’
‘Mrs Tandy,’ Janet said sharply, ‘please. Just let Connor speak. Go on.’
‘I went down there when it was getting dark.’
‘To the warehouse?’
‘Yes. They were just chilling.’
‘Victor and Lydia. Had they taken any drugs?’ Janet said.
‘Yes, and I had some weed… I was working out what to do, who to do first…’ His voice trembled slightly, the first emotion he had betrayed. ‘… then Victor, he says, “Check this out.” And he’s got a gun. I says, “Where’d you get it?” and he says, “The Perry boys,” and if he sells it on how much will he get? Or maybe he’ll keep it for protection, right? In case of trouble. Lydia, she wants him to sell it though. They’re arguing but not shouting and I says, “Can I see it?” And he says sure. And I take it and I shoot him, two pops and she’s screaming, trying to get up, and I do her, three, ’cos the first one misses.’
‘Oh God, Connor.’ His mother covered her eyes.
‘Then I get the bottle ready and light it and chuck it by them and it works. Starts the fire.’
‘What were you, what in God’s… Jesus, Connor.’ Mrs Tandy sputtered to a halt.
‘What then?’ Janet said.
‘I went home,’ he said.
‘The bag and the gloves?’
‘Put them back under the stairs.’
‘And do you know what happened to them?’ Janet said.
‘My dad must have taken them.’
‘He did.’ Gloria shook her head. ‘He came round and got his stuff on the Saturday.’