in?’ She smiles. She can see the old man wants to deny it but they both know hip-hop isn’t likely to be top of his own playlist.
He sighs heavily. ‘Through the back.’
Ashley Brotherton is leaning against the breakfast bar in the tiny kitchen, drinking orange juice from a carton. The room is tidy but not especially clean; Ev can feel the lino sticking under her shoes.
‘Who are you?’ he says, wiping juice from his mouth. He’s not tall but he’s well built. Very short hair, very pale blue eyes. Handsome, in a rather belligerent way. He pulls out a chair for his grandfather, who sits down slowly, in obvious pain.
‘Thames Valley CID,’ says Quinn. ‘Just wanted to check on your movements on the morning of April 1st.’
Ashley and his grandfather exchange a glance. ‘That was Nan’s funeral,’ says the young man. ‘And in any case, what business is it of yours?’
‘Where was it held?’ says Ev, taking her notebook from her bag.
‘The crematorium,’ answers the old man. ‘The one in Headington.’
‘You still haven’t answered my question,’ says Ashley.
‘There was an attack on a young woman that morning,’ says Quinn smoothly. ‘We think the perp does the sort of work you do.’
Ashley walks over to the pedal bin in the corner and drops the empty carton inside. Then he turns to face Quinn. ‘Like I said, I was at my nan’s funeral. Cars got here at 8.30. Ceremony was at 9.00. Wake at the Red Lion at 10.30. You can check all that. Whoever you’re looking for, it ain’t me.’
Quinn offers his most unpleasant smile. ‘So you won’t mind us searching your van, then, will you. Just to make sure.’
The old man looks up. ‘You got a warrant?’
‘No,’ says Everett quickly. ‘It was just an informal request, Mr Brotherton –’
‘In that case the answer’s no. Like I said, Ashley’s a good lad. He’s got a good job, a proper skill. You’ve got no right dragging him into this for no good reason. Just because we live on the estate, you people immediately assume we’re dirt –’
Ev bites her lip. So much for trying to find something decent about this place; seems she can’t even spot it when it’s sitting right in front of her. ‘I’m sorry, Mr Brotherton. We didn’t mean to cause any offence.’
The old man gestures to his grandson. ‘Show them out, will you, Ash. I’ve got things to do.’
On the doorstep, Ev stops a moment and turns. ‘Ashley – can I just ask – is it at all possible someone else could have used your van that day? Does anyone else have keys?’
She’s half expecting him to tell her to piss off, and she couldn’t really blame him if he did, but he doesn’t. Just looks her straight in the eye. ‘No,’ he says. ‘Only me and the office.’
Back in the car, Quinn snaps on his seat belt. ‘What do you think?’
She puts the key in the ignition and then sits back. ‘I think we check what he said with the crematorium but I’m pretty sure they’re going to confirm it. I don’t reckon he attacked Faith. Not least because I just don’t think he’s that good a liar.’
There’s the sound of an engine starting now and they look up to see a Ramsgate Renovations van turning right out of the side road. It passes barely three feet from their car yet Ashley Brotherton stares straight ahead, refusing to look at them.
They watch him down the street and out of sight.
‘If he really did attack Faith, he’ll have that van cleared and valeted within the hour,’ says Quinn.
Ev shrugs. ‘Who says he hasn’t done that already? And even if he hasn’t, the old boy was right – we don’t have a cat’s chance in hell of getting a warrant.’ She checks her watch. ‘Look, we’d better get a move on if we’re going to be back in time for the meeting.’
Quinn makes a face. ‘What’s the bloody point? Right now, we have absolutely sod all to say.’
* * *
Adam Fawley
4 April 2018
12.32
‘We checked with the crematorium on our way back,’ says Ev, looking round the room. ‘Ashley Brotherton was definitely where he said he was at the time Faith was attacked. He was one of the coffin bearers – there must have been fifty people who saw him there.’
It’s probably just as well I’m letting Gis run this meeting, because I’m struggling to keep my temper. If it was any other case would I really be expecting a