after another, and was still waiting for Michael Phillips’s mobile phone records. If he and Tina were in contact with each other, there was no proof of it.
Helen had been to Tina’s salon and had brought back three photographs of her. They were posed pictures of her that Tina used in the salon, and these were now pinned up on the board. By the time Anna had given the team the update from the flat, they were stunned. She also gave them the news that it was still not possible to get identification from the blood found at the flat.
‘He was not the biological son so we will not get any matching DNA from the Rawlinses’ blood samples.’
‘What about anything from his parents’ home? Did you check that out?’
‘Not yet.’
Stanley glanced at Helen and it irritated Anna.
‘It wasn’t convenient for me to do so this morning, Brian, so you can wipe that expression off your face. Anyone thought to get a DNA from Tina to see if it’s her hair found in the bed?’
Brian looked at Helen again. She shook her head.
‘Get it sorted, would you?’ Anna snapped. She took a deep breath to calm herself down. ‘We really need to get more information on Alan. We’re back to square one, but what we do know now is that the place was a bloodbath.’
‘Do we move Tina Brooks up to prime suspect?’ Helen asked.
‘Yes, but until we get more evidence we leave her hanging.’
‘Well, if she cut him up she deserves to be.’
‘Thank you, Brian, but I am now very sure it would have taken two people to move and dismember the body, dispose of it, clean the flat, and so we place Michael Phillips back up alongside Tina.’
‘But we don’t have a shred of evidence linking him to her or to Alan Rawlins!’
‘Then let’s try and find it,’ she said crossly.
Helen signalled to her that she had a call. It was Edward Rawlins.
‘I’ll take it in my office, Helen. Thank you.’ She dreaded talking to him. By now she was sure he would have been told the truth.
‘Mr Rawlins, thank you for getting back to me.’
‘I am sorry for the wasted time. You have my sincere apologies, Detective Travis – that is all I can say.’
‘I understand, Mr Rawlins, and now I really need to come and talk to you again because I need to see the bedroom that Alan kept at your house.’
‘Yes, of course. I am at home now so whenever is convenient to you.’
‘Thank you. I will come over straight away if that is acceptable.’
‘Yes, of course it is.’
She replaced the receiver. Her heart went out to the dapper little man whose voice was so strained, and for him to apologise to her for what must have been the most devastating news touched her. It must have felt as if he had lost his son twice over.
Paul knocked and said they had made some headway; they’d traced a possible contact who knew Sammy Marsh. After a series of calls to Cornwall they had been given the address of the flat owned by Marsh that was still unoccupied. They also had the details of a contact of Marsh who was closer to home, serving time at Wandsworth Prison.
‘Good. Interview this guy. What’s he in for?’
‘Drug dealing. Got an eighteen-month sentence, small stuff, but he did at one time share the flat with Sammy. His name is Errol Dante. He’s got a record for previous drug and assault charges, but nothing major. The most major thing about him is he has fifteen illegitimate kids with a variety of women. He’s a Jamaican overstayer recommended for deportation on completion of his prison sentence. He travels around seaside towns with fairground workers.’
‘See what you get from him and ask if he can identify any of the guys in the surfing picture.’
‘Will do. I’ll go with Helen, is that okay?’
‘Yes, and tell Brian to continue trawling for any other contacts in Cornwall. If we have to go there we don’t want a wasted journey.’
‘
‘As the DS you’re his line manager, so deal with it.’
Anna was just about to leave to see Mr Rawlins when Langton phoned in. She spent a considerable amount of time explaining all the new developments and he listened without interruption until she told him they could not make any positive identification.
‘Why not? You’ve got his parents giving blood samples. You can’t waste time – it is imperative you—’ She interrupted him to give the reason why not. He was stunned.
‘Jesus Christ, I didn’t know that. Can you imagine how many people are giving birth with donors? It’s going to create a big mess and we could have God knows how many victims unidentified in years to come.’
‘I am just going to meet with Mr Rawlins. We might get something that’ll help, as apparently Alan still used a bedroom at his parents’ home.’
‘What? Bit late in the day. Why hasn’t that been checked out?’
‘I’ve only recently found out and it wasn’t in the original Misper report.’
‘Let me know if you uncover anything.’
‘Yes, sir!’ she said sarcastically. She knew it was a slip-up, that with luck could be rectified, if she did find anything that could help identify Alan Rawlins as the victim.
Anna drove reluctantly to the Rawlinses’ house as she knew how distressed Edward was, and now having to search the room that his son kept there was not going to help matters.
Mr Rawlins opened the front door before she had time to ring the bell.
‘Come in. Could I have a private word with you?’ he said immediately.
‘Yes, of course.’
He looked very pale and nervous as he ushered Anna into the lounge.
‘I want to ask you if the information regarding my son’s birth could be kept confidential.’
‘Yes, of course I will endeavour to respect your privacy. I am sorry that you had to find out in such circumstances. It must be very upsetting for you.’
‘That is putting it mildly. I found it hard to believe, even harder to realise my wife has kept a secret from me all these years. It never entered my head that Kathleen could have been so devious. I have to come to terms with it – I have no choice – but nevertheless I am hardly able to accept it. Alan is
He hesitated. ‘He had his mother’s eyes – clear blue eyes. I never questioned that he could not be her child, and he was very like me in so many ways. The hardest thing is for me to understand the fact that Kathleen was too afraid to tell me the truth. It wouldn’t have mattered. I loved him, treasured him as she doted on him, and now with this awful situation, not knowing if he is alive or . . .’ He broke down.
Although impatient to see Alan’s bedroom, Anna was aware of the need to be considerate and said that if he found it disturbing to be present during the search then she could do it alone.
‘He used it when he stayed over. In fact, we hardly ever went in there, only to clean or remake his bed. It’s as he left it. During the time he’s been missing I have sat in there praying.’
‘Have you removed anything?’
‘No. It’s his bedroom and it’s private. It’s always been his bedroom. If Rose needs to rest she uses the spare room next to our master bedroom. Sometimes lately I’ve also slept in there because Kathleen is . . .’ He paused. ‘She’s incontinent,’ he said sadly.
Anna stood up saying she didn’t want to take any more of his time. He nodded and led her into the hall. They moved up the stairs.
‘I can do this on my own, Mr Rawlins,’ Anna reiterated. ‘I don’t want to add to your distress.’
‘Yes. I won’t stay with you. I’ll just show you the room. I have the keys.’
‘Is it locked?’
‘No, but his desk drawers are and he has a small safe.’
‘I really appreciate this, Mr Rawlins.’
They passed the master bedroom and Rose turned to smile. She was spoon-feeding porridge to Kathleen,
