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Adele stood up and went to the counter, tore off a few sheets of kitchen roll and dried her eyes. She loudly blew her nose and rubbed it red with the rough paper. ‘Murdered?’ she asked. ‘I don’t …? This doesn’t make any sense.’
‘Obviously I’ll have to wait for the results from Forensics and I’ll need to draft in a new pathologist, but I’m pretty certain he was murdered.’
‘Oh no. Oh God, no.’ Adele moved over to the sofa in the corner of the kitchen and slumped into it. ‘He was a lovely man. Why would anyone do such a thing? What was it, a robbery or something?’
‘I’ve no idea yet, Adele.’ Matilda frowned. Her mind started working in overdrive. Adele and Brian go out on a date; by the next morning one has been burgled and one has been murdered. Coincidence? ‘What can you tell me about him?’ Matilda asked, moving over to sit next to her friend.
‘I’m not sure really.’ Adele composed herself and ran her fingers through her knotted hair. ‘He’s not been back in England long. He’s been living in America. He’s from somewhere down south originally. Essex, I think he said.’
‘Any family?’
‘He didn’t say. There’s an ex-wife but no kids. I can’t believe it. I really liked him.’
Matilda’s phone started ringing, and she looked at the display. It was Aaron. ‘I’m going to need to take this.’
Matilda waited until she was out in the hallway before she answered, and then she kept her voice low.
‘Ma’am, I just want to let you know that I’ve found some photo ID and shown it to the neighbour. Forensics have removed the hood covering his face and it matches his passport.’
‘So it is the man who lives there then?’ Matilda asked, not wanting to say Brian’s name in case Adele overheard.
‘Brian Appleby, yes. The thing is, I’ve run his name through the PNC – the bloke’s a nonce.’
‘Sorry?’
‘He’s on the sex offender’s register. He got out of Ashfield Prison, in Gloucestershire, last year after spending eight years in prison for a series of sexual assaults on young girls.’
‘Bloody hell!’
Matilda ended the call and turned back to the kitchen. Through the gap in the door she saw Adele sitting on the leather sofa tearing the kitchen roll with shaking fingers. She looked up at Matilda with a tear-stained face and a swollen eye. She had seen her upset and sad in the past but now she seemed vulnerable. How could Matilda go in there and tell her the first date she had been on in more than twenty years was with a convicted sex offender?
Chapter Four (#u310d9ca7-58c7-5f38-ab02-035ea38ef6c4)
‘Why weren’t we told there was a sex offender living on our patch?’
DCI Matilda Darke was in her tiny, cluttered office with the door closed. DS Aaron Connolly was in front of her desk with a thick file in his hand.
‘I’ve no idea. According to this, when he was released from prison, he went back to his home in Essex, but was more or less forced out by the neighbours. He decided on a fresh start in Sheffield and informed Essex Police of his intentions. They were fine with him moving, probably just glad to get rid of him. He was in touch with his probation officer on a regular basis and did everything right.’
‘Until he came here and didn’t even bother informing us.’
‘That’s what it looks like.’
‘How long has he been out of prison?’
‘He was released in January last year.’
‘So how did he afford such a nice house in Linden Avenue?’
‘I’ve no idea, ma’am.’
Matilda looked past Aaron out into the incident room. The lack of officers was startling. It seemed unnervingly quiet too, though that probably had something to do with the absence of DC Rory Fleming who could frequently be heard above everyone else, even when the room was at full capacity.
‘Aaron, go back to his house and give it a thorough going over. I want to know everything about this Brian Appleby. What’s he been doing since last January? Why did he choose Sheffield? Talk to the neighbours – don’t mention he was a sex offender though – and find out what they know about him. What he did for a living, the usual stuff.’
‘Will do.’
‘Is that his police file?’ Matilda asked as Aaron was about to leave.
‘Yes.’
‘Leave it with me.’
He handed it to her. ‘I was thinking, Brian was a sex offender and his murder looks like an execution. Vigilante?’
‘I was thinking that myself,’ Matilda said, running her fingers through her hair. ‘But who knew he was here when even we didn’t?’
‘Maybe someone followed him up from Essex.’
‘It’s possible. I don’t like vigilantes,’ she said, turning to the window. She rolled her eyes at the uninspiring view. ‘They’re unpredictable, they’re violent, and there’s usually more than one victim.’
It was strange looking through the one-way mirror and seeing someone she knew sitting nervously in an interview room. Standing in the observation bay, Matilda watched Adele. Less than twenty-four hours ago she was in a restaurant with a charming man having a delicious meal and a pleasant conversation. Now, that man was dead, murdered, and Adele had been the last person to see him alive.
The door opened and the diminutive Assistant Chief Constable Valerie Masterson entered and joined Matilda. Still dressed in her overcoat and wearing a woollen hat a couple of sizes too big, she had obviously come straight from the car park.
‘I’ve just heard. How is she?’ Valerie asked, nodding towards Adele through the glass.
‘I don’t know.’
‘Who gave her that black eye?’
‘She surprised a burglar last night.’
‘Are the two connected?’
‘I don’t know. I doubt it. I’ll look into it, though.’
‘I hope you’re not intending on interviewing Dr Kean yourself.’ Valerie’s concern for Adele didn’t last and quickly turned to admonishment.
‘Of course not.’ I would have done if you hadn’t turned up.
‘Do I need to bring in someone else to run this investigation?’ Valerie asked staring intently at her DCI.
‘No. I’m more than capable of detaching myself.’
Valerie rolled her eyes, though Matilda didn’t see. She was fixed on Adele. ‘Matilda, I know the two of you are close. I don’t want your friendship getting in the way of a murder investigation.’
‘It won’t.’ Matilda turned to look at her boss. ‘I guarantee it.’
Matilda brushed past the ACC and into the corridor, where Chris Kean, Adele’s son, was waiting. He’d changed dramatically since finishing university. Gone were the unruly hair and sombre scowl of the modern-day student, the dour expression of a generation with the worry of the entire universe on their shoulders. He had been transformed into a member of the working society. He was smart, neat, tidy, handsome, and had put on a little muscle thanks to the training he’d been doing with his mother and Matilda for the half-marathon.
As soon as he saw Matilda he jumped up from his seat. ‘How’s my mum?’ he asked, the look of worry had returned.
‘She’s fine, Chris. There’s nothing to be concerned about. We just need to talk to her about her date, that’s all.’
‘Are you going to interview her?’
Matilda looked back at the observation room, wondering if Valerie was listening. She lowered her voice. ‘No, Chris. I’m not allowed.’
‘Why not? She’d feel more comfortable with you in there.’
‘I know, but it’s a conflict of interest. We’re friends. It would be the same if you were in there. I’m sorry. She’s going to be interviewed by Aaron and Scott. She knows them; she’s worked alongside them for years. She’ll be fine. Trust me.’
‘But why are they allowed to interview her if they know her yet you’re not?’
‘Because they’ve never held her hair while she’s vomited a bottle of Prosecco down a toilet.’ Matilda smiled but Chris didn’t seem to see the funny side. ‘Look, Chris, you shouldn’t be here. You’ll have to wait in reception.’
Chris sat back down, slumping heavily into the plastic chair. ‘It’s all my fault.’
‘What makes you say that?’ Matilda asked sitting next to him.
‘I’ve been badgering her for months to go on the dating sites, meet someone,’ he sniffled. ‘She’s lonely, Mat. I can see it in her eyes. She says she’s not, but she is.’
‘I know, Chris. I blame myself too.’
‘Why?’
‘I’ve been so wrapped up in myself. Your mum is my best friend. She’s always been there for me and I should have been a better friend in return.’
‘You’ve been a great friend. You helped her when she first came to Sheffield.’
‘That was twenty years ago,’ Matilda scoffed. ‘It’s time I moved on. I need to start embracing life more, going out, enjoying myself. I think me and your mother deserve a holiday.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes.’ Matilda found herself smiling. ‘We should go somewhere warm with a beach, plenty of bars, maybe sing karaoke and chat up some blokes.’
Chris smiled but looked embarrassed.
‘Chris, you shouldn’t worry about your mum. You’re just starting out in life, you need to find out who you are, travel, meet new people, move away maybe. Your mum is going to be fine. I’ll see to that.’
‘You promise?’
‘Girl Guide’s honour,’ Matilda said, raising her right hand and giving the three-fingered salute.
‘You were a Girl Guide?’ He sniggered.
‘Well, not for long, I swore at the Patrol Leader – on more than one occasion. Come on, I’ll take you through to reception. If the ACC sees you here we’ll both be in trouble.’
DC Scott Andrews had been called in early. With Sian Mills on leave to decorate her house following the aftermath of her home being flooded, Matilda wanted someone alongside DS Aaron Connolly who Adele knew and liked. This would be a formal and recorded interview, but it needed to be as unobtrusive and sensitive as possible.
Matilda met Scott in the hallway in reception. He walked towards her carrying a tray of drinks.
‘I’ve snatched a few chocolate bars from Sian’s drawer too. I thought it might make things seem a bit more relaxed.’
Dressed in a dark grey suit with white shirt and grey tie, Scott looked his usual smart and dapper self. His hair had been recently trimmed. He was the embodiment of style. Today, however, his smooth complexion was one of worry. Adele was a regular figure in the station: everyone knew her, liked her, and respected her. Nobody wanted to see her interrogated.
‘Are you OK to do this?’ Matilda asked, noting his furrowed brow.
‘Of course. Who’s that?’ He lowered his voice and nodded at Chris Kean who was frantically chewing his nails.
‘That’s Adele’s son.’
‘Blimey, she doesn’t look old enough to have a son that age.’
‘Open with that line and you’ll have a friend for life.’ She opened the door for Scott and followed him through towards the interview suites.
‘Aaron!’ Matilda called to DS Connolly, who was talking to DC Easter. He made his excuses and joined Matilda outside interview room one. ‘Just the facts, Aaron. Don’t be too personal. We know Adele, she’s not a suspect,’ Matilda warned.
‘Yes, boss.’
Matilda watched as Scott and Aaron entered the room. She hoped to give Adele a reassuring smile, but she didn’t look up from the table. The door closed, and Matilda was left in the corridor. She went into the observation room. She may not be able to conduct the interview, but there was no way she was going to allow it to be unsupervised.
‘Friday, 10th of March 2017. Interview with Adele Kean. Those present are myself, Detective Constable Scott Andrews—’
‘Detective Sergeant Aaron Connolly.’
Scott nodded at Adele when she didn’t speak.
‘Oh, sorry, Doctor Adele Kean,’ her voice was broken and soft.
‘Dr Kean, you are not under arrest and you haven’t been cautioned. This is a formal interview, as we believe you to be the last person to see Brian Appleby alive. Do you understand?’
Adele nodded.
‘You’re going to have to reply for the benefit of the recording,’ Scott said, leaning forward, his voice gentle and low.
‘I’m sorry. This is all new to me. Yes. I understand.’
‘Adele, can you tell me how you came to meet Brian Appleby?’ Aaron said, sitting back in his chair.
Adele closed her eyes and shook her head. She wasn’t embarrassed about using a website to find a man, everyone did it these days, she just hoped she wasn’t asked why she wanted to find a soulmate in the first place. That, she was embarrassed about.
‘It was a dating website aimed at people of mature years.’
‘Who made contact first?’
‘He did.’
