While he was waiting for the food order, Bliss popped outside to make a call. Kennedy was not exactly overwhelmed with enthusiasm, but he at least listened graciously as Bliss reeled off a summary of where the investigation was and where he hoped to lead it.
‘Shame I had to wait until now for an update,’ the Cambridge DI said curtly.
Bliss sighed into his phone. ‘To tell the truth, I didn’t appreciate you and Ashton treating me like a mug after calling me out to the chalk pits. It was amateurish, and I admit I’ve responded in kind.’
After a moment, Kennedy said, ‘Yeah, I’ll give you that one. It was Glen’s play and I let him run with it. It was stupid of me. I hold my hands up, okay. Neither of us treated you with the respect you deserve.’
It was a fulsome apology as far as Bliss was concerned. He promised to keep the DI in the loop going forward.
Bliss and the team ate in the canteen so as to keep the air in the incident room as fresh as possible, sharing bottles of Coke and 7-Up between them. Back at their desks thirty minutes later, DC Ansari had begun filling them in on tech support progress when Bliss took a call from Yeva Savchuk. Sara had agreed to meet with them at Yeva’s house. She was already there but would be gone again in an hour. If they still wanted to speak with her it was now or never. Bliss did not hesitate. He told Bishop about the call, and less than fifteen minutes later, he and Chandler pulled up outside Savchuk’s front door.
The house was small but tastefully furnished. High-end electronics, expensive sofas with plump cushions, dark wood tables and bookshelves. The girl had a flair for décor, and an eye for nice things. The Croatian girl was slender with wavy brown hair that reached down almost to her waist. Big eyes and high cheekbones dominated a face too stern to be truly beautiful. A slightly crooked nose lent her some character. She wore a pale blue leisure suit beneath a fluorescent pink Superdry hoodie. Each ear supported half a dozen rings, and a single stud pierced her nose.
The two young women sat side by side on a large sofa, leaving Bliss and Chandler to take the two matching armchairs opposite. A small coffee table stood between them, a glass chess set and board sitting squarely in its centre. Sara fidgeted constantly, looking ill at ease, her eyes cast downwards while she played with her hair.
Bliss coughed once into his fist to draw her attention before speaking. ‘I understand Yeva has already filled you in as to where our interests lie.’
She shifted her shoulders; a vague, uncommitted gesture.
‘We believe your help could be important, Sara. For two reasons: firstly, it’s possible that your own life could soon be in danger. Secondly, it’s equally possible that you may know somebody who is already under serious threat.’
‘This is to do with chokers, yes?’ Her voice was much deeper than Bliss had imagined, a rough smoker’s edge to it. He glanced down at her fingers, saw tell-tale nicotine stains surrounding shiny nails studded with jewels.
Bliss nodded, relaxing his features. ‘It is. And please understand that neither of us are here to pass judgement on what you do. It’s of no concern to us, other than it perhaps putting you in the sights of a man who enjoys killing by manual strangulation. You can tell us anything. Believe me, there’s not much we haven’t heard. You won’t shock us.’
Sara nodded as if this was acceptable to her, but her eyes flitted between them still, anxious and uncertain. ‘I tell you this, you do not tell my employer, no?’
Chandler slid forward and leaned in. ‘Absolutely not. All we want from you is information. We will discuss it with our colleagues, but nobody from the outside. As DS Bliss mentioned, it’s not of interest to us in that way. You’re perfectly safe with us, Sara. And whatever you tell us is safe with us, too.’
‘Okay. Ask me and I tell you if I can.’
Bliss leaned back, indicating to Chandler that he was happy for her to continue. ‘We might occasionally have to ask you something awkward,’ she said. ‘Something you may find a little embarrassing. But please don’t worry about it. We have some initial questions, but these tend to expand in a wider direction that’s dictated by your responses. So let’s get going, and please tell us if you need something explaining or if you’d like to take a break.’ She smiled. ‘Okay. I’ll begin by asking you if you know of any other girls who offer the same erotic asphyxiation act who haven’t been around for the past few days – say, since Tuesday or Wednesday. Anyone come to mind?’
Sitting upright and on the edge of her cushion, Sara extended a finger and tapped it against her pouting lips. Her eyes narrowed as she gave the question some consideration. They tightened further still when she spoke. ‘I can’t be sure, but this is possible, yes. We girls who meet such men have WhatsApp group. On phone, you understand?’
Both detectives nodded. Bliss said, ‘Yes, of course. I assume you exchange information about the men you meet, and that way you can warn others if there’s somebody out there whose behaviour is suspect?’
Sara nodded furiously. ‘Yes. This. I do not know of man who others think badly of, except the ones who smell or are gross in other ways. But I have not seen WhatsApp from one girl in a few days. Her
