which was unpredictable and intermittent because his mother constantly insisted on dragging him back.
‘You were questioned about Lilian Duffy’s murder before, weren’t you?’
‘Oh fuck, that was a joke. It’s because I got in a fight with her once. She was on her feet when I left her in that alley, her kid just standing there with this crazy expression on his face. Next I hear is, she was found by the cops, beaten up and covered in blood. He done it.’
‘Done the beating?’
‘Yeah.’
‘What about the murder?’
‘I dunno. It was a while after. But he certainly had reason to.’
‘What reason?’
‘Well, what she done to him, locking him in this cupboard and that. Days on end he’d be in there before someone opened the door.’
‘So, contrary to what you said before ? that you only went to Shallcotte Street rarely ? you seem to have been a frequent visitor.’
McDowell shrugged. ‘Like I said, I went there looking for Beryl.’
Langton tapped the desk with a pencil. ‘Well, you were there before that. First you say that Anthony Duffy was just a small child, next you say he was beating his mother up.’
‘Right, yeah.’ McDowell sucked at his cigarette.
‘So, how many times did you visit that house in Shallcotte Street?’
McDowell shrugged again. ‘It was like this ? I lost my club, fell on hard times a bit and when I needed a place to doss down, I’d go there.’
‘When was the last time you saw Lilian Duffy’s son?’
‘Anthony? It’s got to be twenty years ago, pal — that time when he come round for his passport, or it could have been after he was arrested, I can’t remember. He could be dead, for all I know. Me head’s a bit muddled; it’s the drink.’
‘So, he never made contact with you? Say, in the last few months?’
‘You’re not listening to me. I never seen him since he done over his mother.’ McDowell was starting to sweat. ‘I don’t feel well.’
‘Do you need to take a break?’
‘I need a bottle of fucking vodka, but I doubt you’re going to give me one!’
It was just after half past six when they called it quits for the day. McDowell by now was shaking, unable to think straight, and his sweating had started to stink out the interview room. He was taken back to Wandsworth to be returned for further questioning the next morning. The legal sixteen hours with breaks was almost up.
Langton was stunned to hear what forensics had found in the car seat. It was a hell of a lot more than he had expected.
He contacted the lab. By now it was after half past seven and nearly everyone had left for the night. Lewis had already gone home to his new baby. Barolli was on the late shift, organizing the surveillance on Anna’s flat.. Anna was sorting out her desk and putting things in her briefcase.
‘You off then, Travis?’ Langton asked, squinting from his cigarette smoke.
‘Yes, unless I’m needed here.’
‘You’re not. Goodnight.’
She looked from the impatient Langton to the edgy Barolli, then picked up her coat. ‘Goodnight, then.’ The swing doors closed behind her.
Barolli briefed Langton, who stood in the middle of the incident room in his raincoat ready to leave. Daniels had been at home most of the day apart from a trip to the gym in the afternoon. He came back carrying the Evening Standard.
‘At least he knows we acted on his tip-off,’ Barolli said, showing Langton a copy of the newspaper. The headlines reported that a suspect was in custody for the serial murders.
Langton inhaled deeply, the smoke drifting from his nose.
‘You going off, then?’ Barolli asked.
Langton sat down, hunching his shoulders in the raincoat. ‘A lot depends on the lab tomorrow, doesn’t it?’
‘Yeah. They say with the hair’s root attached, they were pretty positive they’d get a result on the DNA. You know, gov, maybe we should pull the bastard in tonight?’
‘I’ve been thinking about that. But Travis is primed to know what to say if he calls her.’
‘You think he will?’
‘He must be itching to know what we’re doing with McDowell.’
‘Why hold off? The surveillance team is costing a lot; we are way over budget.’
Langton stubbed out his cigarette. ‘Because, pal, if we don’t get the results we’re hoping for from forensic, he’ll be in and out of here like a blue-arsed fly.’
He looked at his watch. ‘Who’ve we got on Travis’s flat?’
Barolli checked his list. ‘Dick Field; takes over at eight.’
‘Mmm.’
‘I was just going to grab something to eat before they close the canteen.’
‘Who’s on Daniels?’
Barolli checked his list and passed it over. Langton glanced at it and let it drop back onto the desk. He yawned; he was exhausted.
‘Why don’t you go and recharge your batteries, gov?’ Barolli said anxiously. Any minute the canteen would close.
Langton dug his hands in his coat pockets and stood up. ‘I’m going to have a sleep. Call me at home in a couple of hours.’ As he walked out, Barolli sighed with relief.
‘He’s knackered,’ Moira remarked.
‘Run up and get me a bacon sandwich, would you? I’m starving.’
Moira pushed her chair back. ‘I hope he has something to eat; he’s not had anything all day.’
‘Tell me about it.’
Anna bought some groceries at her local supermarket. As she returned to her car, her mobile rang. She tucked it between her shoulder and her chin, juggling her shopping bags.
‘Travis,’ she said.
‘Hi there.’
‘Who is this?’ She dumped the bags, knowing immediately who it was.
‘Don’t you recognize my voice?’
‘I’m sorry. Is this Alan?’
‘Yes, it’s Alan. Where are you?’
She hesitated, her mind racing. ‘I’m at Tesco. I’m in the middle of shopping.’
‘Which Tesco?’
She sat in her car. ‘It’s the one on Cromwell Road.’
‘I know it.’
She shut the door and locked it. How on earth had he got hold of her mobile number?
‘Are you still there?’ he asked.
‘Yes. Just getting in my car. I’m actually in the car park.’
‘You’re not far from Queen’s Gate. Why don’t you wait and I’ll meet you there?’
‘Unfortunately someone’s coming to fix my dishwasher and I’ve got to be at the flat to let him in.’
‘Well, another time then.’
‘OK.’
She wasn’t sure if he had hung up or not. As she listened?
‘How’s it all going?’ he said softly.
She jumped. ‘How’s what going?’
‘I read in the paper you’ve arrested someone. He was in court this morning.’
‘Yes, he was. But you know, Alan, I can’t really talk about it.’
