‘I know. But you don’t need to get anyone’s life story, just their urns - if they still have them.’
‘Even so ‘
‘Ben, it’s preferable to the amount of time and resources that could be wasted if we initiate a futile murder enquiry.’
‘All right. I’ll get on to it.’
‘Fine.’
As Fry got up to leave, Cooper asked her: ‘By the way, is there any progress on the Birley enquiry?’
She nodded. ‘Right now, we’ve got Sandra Birley and her supposed abductor sitting in interview rooms downstairs.’
‘Mrs Birley is alive and well?’
‘Very much so. And she has some explaining to do.’
When Fry had moved out of earshot, Gavin Murfin leaned across the desk. ‘It wasn’t entirely luck that we got an ID for Audrey Steele, though, was it?’ he said. ‘It was your persistence that made the difference, Ben. Most other people would have given up, like Miss wanted you to. She ought to have acknowledged that, at least.’
‘It doesn’t matter, Gavin.’
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Murfin sniffed. ‘You’re too tolerant by half.’ ‘I can’t be bothered about it now. I’ve got some difficult visits to make.’
Cooper hoped that eighteen months had been long enough for the bereaved families to come to terms with their loss. He might be about to intrude on their grief in a big way.
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15
Cooper didn’t need prompting this time before seating himself in one of the low armchairs in Vivien Gill’s sitting room he’d already seen the blinds separating across the road. The baby seemed to be either sleeping or being looked after somewhere else, because he wasn’t taken through into the kitchen. That didn’t mean he couldn’t smell it, though.
‘Mrs Gill, this is a bit difficult,’ he said. ‘But you’re aware that we found your daughter’s remains. The identification has been confirmed from dental records.’
‘Yes, I understand that. It’s been explained to me.’ ‘Well, the thing is, the ashes that you have -‘ Cooper indicated the urn on the dresser. ‘Obviously, in the circumstances, they can’t be Audrey’s.’
Mrs Gill nodded. ‘Yes, I’d thought of that. I’m not stupid.’ ‘We’d like to take them away and analyse them.’ ‘You think you can find out whose ashes they really are?’ ‘It might be possible. And that could help us to find out who … well, who took your daughter’s body.’
Vivien Gill looked at the urn. ‘It’s funny, but I almost want
to keep it, even though I know it isn’t Audrey. It’s not as if I’ve
spent my time looking at the ashes themselves, just at the urn.’
Cooper held up his hands. ‘The urn is yours. But before
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long, you could have the genuine ashes to put in it, if that’s what you want.’
‘Oh, take it. I’ll think about whether I want it back, and I’ll let you know.’
‘Thank you.’
Mrs Gill motioned him to stay seated and fetched the urn herself. Before Cooper could speak, she slid off the lid and looked in.
‘Strange, isn’t it?’ she said. ‘What we’re reduced to.’
‘Yes. If I may …?’
Cooper took a large plastic bag from his pocket and carefully slipped the urn in, before filling out a receipt. The lid didn’t look particularly secure, so he’d have to be careful to keep it upright in the car. The lab wouldn’t be happy to get only half an exhibit, with the rest scattered in his footwell or down the back of a seat.
‘Mrs Gill, do you remember anything unusual about the service at the crematorium?’
‘How do you mean?’
‘Well, were there any mourners you didn’t know, for example?’
‘There were some of Audrey’s friends from the hospital that I hadn’t met before. Nurses, you know. But apart from that, I knew pretty much everybody. It wasn’t a big do.’
‘And apart from the mourners?’
‘Well, Batman was there.’
‘Who?’
‘Batman. Bloke with a black suit, miserable expression, travels in a big car with a lot of space in the back.’
Cooper was baffled, until he saw Mrs Gill watching him with a sharp expression, like a bird. He had a feeling he was being tested.
‘The undertaker,’ she said. ‘Melvyn Hudson.’
‘Funeral director is the title he prefers, I believe. So Mr Hudson was there?’
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‘Of course he was there. He had to do all the business, didn’t he? Make sure nothing went wrong. That’s his job.’
‘And did anything go wrong?’
She looked away, as if she suddenly had to check on the weather outside the window.
