“Who was the first person to visit this building after you took it over?” asked Gus.
“I came with my brother,” said Maurice. “There was a good deal of detritus that needed clearing. Much of the gym equipment had gone by then. The lockers remained. Several were locked, and we had to check there was nothing inside them of any value. The tiled ceiling in the shower area was on the floor; frozen pipes, I imagine. Why the water and electrics weren’t cut off as soon as the gym ceased trading, I don’t know.”
“Two years before you took over, it was closed for maintenance from time to time,” said Gus. “If they didn’t shut off the utilities then, I don’t suppose they bothered when the business closed. What else did you find lying around?”
“Someone started a fire over there by the lockers on that side. They left a pile of ash scattered across the floor. The lockers themselves revealed little. A few pairs of trainers, t-shirts, shorts, hats, gloves, a few boxes. We had the place cleared within two days, ready to convert to its new usage.”
“Boxes?” asked Luke. “Did you find a lunch-box by any chance?”
“An empty one, yes, I believe we did.”
“Many thanks, Mr Duffield,” said Gus. “DC Umeh can sleep easy tonight.”
Gus and Luke walked back along Stephenson Road to the car.
“It will be noon before we get to Bourne Hill, guv,” said Luke. “What did you want to do after we’ve spoken to Warren Baker?”
“When we get to the car park, we’ll call the office. They might have found a fresh lead. Unless they’ve been sitting on their hands throughout the morning.”
Luke called the office as soon as he parked the car.
“No reply, guv,” he said.
“Try Alex’s mobile,” said Gus.
“Alex, it’s Luke. Where are you? You’re kidding. Okay, we’ll see you in a minute.”
“Are they inside?” asked Gus.
“Alex said they used their initiative. Neil and Blessing interviewed Genevieve Harding. He and Lydia talked to Serena Campbell, and because that conversation ended abruptly, they came here and waylaid Warren Baker.”
“What did he have to say?” asked Gus getting out of the car. “Come on. We’re missing the fun.”
“Baker denied everything at first,” said Luke. “Blessing told him Genevieve Harding had confessed everything. DS Tom Kellett had something on Baker and used it to get him to lose Marion’s mobile phone.”
“The FLO had nothing to confess,” said Gus. “She phoned her lover to warn him his links to the sex parties could surface if Marion’s phone held incriminating evidence. Blessing was fishing. A smart girl, that one.”
“Baker took the bait, guv. He started singing like a chorister in Salisbury Cathedral. Neil found the missing phone in the evidence room tucked into a box relating to a death in custody from decades ago.”
“Excellent choice,” said Gus. “No copper’s would open that box again unless he had to. It will be fascinating to learn what information Marion’s phone held.”
“After what we’ve uncovered today, guv, does it hold the name of our killer?”
“I’m confident it does, Luke,” said Gus.
EPILOGUE
Friday, 24th August 2018
Gus arrived at the Old Police Station office at a quarter to nine. He and the team had spent yesterday afternoon pulling together the results of the different conversations that had taken place across the southern end of the county on Thursday morning.
By four o’clock, everyone agreed they had identified the killer.
A thorough search of Derek Preston’s property uncovered the remaining photos taken by John Preston when Kathy was a young woman. Derek had hidden them in a compartment he had fashioned in the boot of his car. Gus asked Neil and Blessing to transfer the photos to Divya in the Hub at London Road.
“I’m sure Divya understands the need for discretion,” said Gus. “Make sure she’s the only person who handles them.”
“Understood, guv,” said Neil.
Police had recovered Derek Preston’s phone when they arrested him in Portsmouth. A quick analysis confirmed the content and timing of the message he sent Marion Reeves.
Marion’s phone stayed at Bourne Hill for a complete analysis of its contents and call history. The phone wasn’t password-protected, nor had she made any attempt to hide the real names of her contacts. DS Tom Kellett had been right. Although Gus didn’t recognise many names on the list, it would be a simple task to compile the network of partygoers Graham Street and Dave Francis had assembled.
It would take time to combine the information gathered from the photos and the mobile phone. But Gus was confident they could identify locations and dates. Gus knew the Chief Constable had to set up a specific task force to carry the case forward. Kenneth Truelove would ensure it got handled better than Operation Conifer.
Luke Sherman returned to the room that Bourne Hill had set aside for the team.
“Do you have good news, Luke?” asked Gus.
“Arthur Jackson will be here in the morning with his solicitor, guv. The interview room is booked for noon.”
“Alex will accompany me here to Bourne Hill,” said Gus. “Luke, I’d like you to start the search for Maureen Glendenning first thing tomorrow. Lydia, Blessing, and Neil can assist you once they’ve updated their digital files with today’s events.”
“Got it, guv,” said Lydia.
“The three of us must find time to update our files on Friday. This time tomorrow, I want to be ready to hand the final Reeves case data over to the Chief Constable.”
“Okay, guv,” said Alex.
“No problem,” said Luke.
Gus had driven to Urchfont and parked outside the bungalow before half-past five.
Suzie arrived ten minutes later and listened to the evidence they had gathered as they sat on the patio.
“I didn’t see
