“They were in a small case just inside the loft,” said Preston. “It was locked, and I couldn’t find a key. When I prised the lock open with a screwdriver, I had the shock of my life. I recognised Marion Reeves straight away. There were dozens of pictures of people doing all sorts. I’m broad-minded, Mr Freeman, but it turned my stomach.”
“Why do you think Kathy had these photos?” asked Luke.
“I didn’t know the full story before I found that case. At work, I saw Marion every day. When I saw those photos, I knew someone took them a long time ago. She looked so young. Eighteen or nineteen, maybe. I couldn’t talk to Stuart, but I couldn’t look Marion in the eye after that.”
“You mentioned people,” said Gus. “Does that mean Marion wasn’t the only woman in the photos? Did you recognise anyone else? The men, perhaps?”
“I was just relieved not to find any of my mother, Mr Freeman. Although, from what I learned later, she must have destroyed them. Somebody took them twenty-five years before I found them. Many of the men and women in the photos would be dead or aged so much I couldn’t identify them.”
“Did you doctor the photos featuring Marion Reeves to mask the identity of the others involved?” asked Gus.
“I did that on my computer at home. It wasn’t difficult. I thought if Theo and Marion Reeves could afford eighty grand to spend on tarting up their house, another ten grand wouldn’t be hard to find. I knew Marion wouldn’t want those pictures to see the light of day.”
“When did you approach Marion to tell her what you had found?” asked Luke.
“I sent her copies in an envelope in the post,” said Preston. “I’d done nothing like it before and realised it was stupid as soon as I put the envelope in the post box. I mean, I wrote the address myself and even licked the stamp.”
“How much money did you ask for?” asked Gus.
“I hadn’t thought that far ahead,” said Preston. “I sent the photos, nothing else. Then, on Monday, I arrived on Oakley Road a few minutes before Stuart. I watched Theo leave, then Stuart reversed the van into the driveway. Stephanie cycled away on her bike, and I called Marion’s mobile when I reached our van. As I started unloading my gear, I sent Marion a text, hinting that I was watching the house, and told her to meet me on the industrial estate.”
“Why there?” asked Gus.
“If we’d gone to a secluded spot, you could guarantee someone would pop up from nowhere and remember seeing two cars. Places such as Churchfields are always busy, so two more parked cars wouldn’t catch anyone’s attention.”
“What time did you reach Churchfields?” asked Luke.
“Half-past nine, or just after. I was two cars behind Marion on the main road. She had just pulled up by the kerb when I entered Stephenson Road. I parked in front of her, got out and walked back. I’ll never forget the look of embarrassment on her face when she realised it was me. When I sat beside her, I apologised for what I’d done. It sounds crazy, but I liked Marion. She was a lovely woman. I told her I was desperate for money. She handed me an envelope filled with cash. I asked how much it was, and she said six thousand pounds. Then Marion started crying. She said she had no more money. Marion told me it was what remained of the money Graham Street gave her when they divorced. I asked her if she knew my mother. Marion nodded and said Kathy and John were regulars at parties she attended. I was ten years old and spending weekends with my grandparents when those photos got taken. We were both in tears by then. I wanted to hand back the cash, but Marion insisted I took it. I gave Marion the originals and the negatives of every photo I found in that case. She told me Graham Street was an evil man with friends in high places. Marion begged me to steer clear of him and not say anything about what I’d found. We hugged one another despite what had just occurred, and as I was getting out of the car, Marion said something odd. Remember Maureen Glendenning. I didn’t have a clue who she meant. I walked to my car, drove to Oakley Road, and parked up the road from the house because I needed five minutes to get myself together.”
“What time did you go inside the house?” asked Gus.
“Ten to ten, or thereabouts,” said Preston. “I made a brew and chatted to Stuart before we got stuck in. He had Heart FM on the radio, and we listened to the ten o’clock news headlines. We cheered when the piece about the Lapland experience came on. The two blokes got sent to jail. Quite right too, Ellie and I were gutted for our kids when we saw how little they were getting for the money we paid.”
“What did you think had happened when Theo arrived home from work later?” asked Gus.
“I didn’t have a clue,” said Preston. “Stuart worried his precious Steph had got knocked off her bike. Then the police lady arrived, and Theo bundled us out of the house. He said he’d let us know when he needed us again. When the news filtered through later in the day, I knew I was in trouble. Marion was alive when I left her, Mr Freeman. You must believe me. I didn’t kill her.”
“No, I don’t believe you did, Mr Preston,” said Gus. “Just a couple more questions, and we’ll let you get back to your cell. What did you do with the cash?”
“I paid it into our joint account in Barclays on Tuesday morning,” said
