The room was quiet.
‘Before you go, I need to make you aware that Janet Scott is taking some personal time. As most of you will know by now, the teenager Olivia Canning was a close friend of Janet’s daughter. For the purposes of that investigation, Janet is a civilian. Should you acquire any information on that inquiry from our colleagues on division, those details shall remain confidential from Janet.’ The boss swivelled her head this way and that, checking they’d taken in what she was saying. ‘Regarding our friends in the fourth estate…’
Godzilla’s phone rang, she broke off and held up a hand for quiet.
‘You’re sure,’ she said, ‘both of them?’
Rachel could see light gleam in her eyes. Godzilla palmed her phone. ‘Analysis on the bullets shows the same weapon used in all three murders. We’ve got a series. Now let’s see what you can bring me. Quick as you like.’
The warehouse stood between the main road, Shuttling Way, and the canal. Derby Fold Lane bordered the plot to the west, leading from the dual carriageway and over the canal bridge. Where the lane descended from the bridge was the spot that the fire investigation officers had identified as the point of entry. The boards there had rotted away at the base and someone had smashed a hole big as a doorway to gain access to the site. So anyone going to the building would have to go along Derby Fold Lane. To the east was a small terraced row, Pocklington Street. Any view those houses might once have had across the yard to the building had since been blocked by high sheet fencing, so only the upper floors were visible. Rachel turned the map around and checked. The land at the far side of Derby Fold Lane was unoccupied scrubland. Which left Manton Street over the canal as the nearest houses likely to have seen any comings and goings. Manton Street, where Greg Tandy lived with his wife and son.
Rachel began there.
Connor answered the door, rolling his eyes when he saw who it was.
‘Your dad back?’ Rachel said.
‘No.’
‘You seen him since yesterday?’
‘No.’
‘What about your mum, she in?’
‘Work,’ he sniffed.
‘The bodies of two people were recovered from the fire at the warehouse,’ Rachel said, ‘a man and woman, we’re trying to identify them. Early twenties, both black.’
‘Dunno,’ he shrugged.
‘Not seen anyone like that about?’ Rachel said.
‘They all look the same to me, niggers,’ he said. Trying to wind her up?
‘What about the warehouse, people coming and going there, you notice that?’
He pulled a face, shook his head. She didn’t believe him.