‘Diamorphine!’ exclaimed Carson. ‘When did you find this out?’
‘Last night,’ Cross answered.
‘Last night! Then why on earth haven’t you got him in custody? He’s obviously our man.’
‘He’s no such thing,’ said Cross.
‘Oh come on, George, give me a break. This is a game changer. Great work,’ Carson went on.
‘We’ll need a search warrant for his flat,’ said Cross.
‘Sure. What for?’ Carson asked.
‘To see if the drugs are still there,’ said Ottey.
‘Is this girl willing to testify to Stokes injecting her?’ Carson asked.
‘Yes, but I think it might be an idea to get her some help,’ said Ottey.
‘Josie, how many times do I have to keep telling you? We’re not social services,’ said Carson.
‘It would add to her credibility in court,’ Ottey sighed.
Carson nodded. ‘Good point.’
‘I’ll get Mackenzie on to it,’ Ottey said.
‘No. I’ll do it,’ said Cross.
‘Okay,’ said Ottey, knowing that her partner had to have his reasons.
*
Danny’s Dry Cleaner’s smelt of freshly pressed laundry that morning. Cross remembered, as a child, his father taking his suits to the dry cleaner’s, which always seemed to have an overpowering, but quite pleasant nevertheless, smell of chemicals. But not so here. They asked for Danny Stokes and were told to go up to his office. But they declined and asked him to come down. Ottey wanted to do this in public. Gerry Stokes stopped working and came over.
‘Sergeants… can I help?’ he asked.
‘No thanks. We’re here to see your son,’ said Ottey.
Cross had noticed that she had her handcuffs in her hand, not discreetly on her belt underneath her jacket. He wondered what had made her take them out early. Maybe to demonstrate from the get-go that she meant business?
Danny came down the stairs, two at a time, smiling broadly as if to impart a carefree, insouciant confidence.
‘Detectives. How can I help?’ he asked breezily.
‘Danny Stokes, I’m arresting you on suspicion of the murder of Felicity Wilson…’ said Ottey.
There was an audible gasp from some of the laundry workers as she read him his rights and cuffed him. Karen burst into tears. Cross looked at her. Possibly she was thinking how close she might have come to death, if he was the killer.
‘Is this a joke?’ Danny asked.
‘Yes, we always go round pretending to arrest people,’ said Ottey. ‘It’s a sideline we have going on, like kiss-a-grams. You know how poorly we’re paid these days. Isn’t that right, DS Cross?’
‘No! That would be completely improper,’ said Cross, a little startled.
Ottey turned to the transfixed laundry workers. ‘Come on. Own up. Who booked us?’ she shouted.
Cross was now completely perplexed. He had no idea what she was talking about. But Ottey had decided she hadn’t been having enough fun on the job recently; well, specifically since partnering with Cross. So she was going to find amusement wherever she could, no matter what the effect was on her partner.
‘Look, we can sort this out really quickly,’ said Danny. ‘This is completely unnecessary.’
Ottey started to guide him out.
‘Wait a second. I have an alibi. I was with my father that night. We were having dinner.’
‘You told us previously you were at home.’ Ottey stopped and they both turned to face Gerry, who said nothing.
‘Well I was wrong. Dad?’ said Danny confidently.
‘The night Flick died?’ Gerry asked.
‘Yes. We had dinner. Remember?’ said Danny.
‘No. No, we didn’t. I remember very clearly. I was on my own. Not unusual,’ he said, turning to Cross.
‘What?’ asked his son. ‘How can you be so sure?’
‘Because I remember discussing her death with you the next day and you making a terrible comment about a problem being solved. I hadn’t seen you the night before,’ said Gerry.
Ottey looked at Cross. What was the old man up to?
‘Dad, why are you doing this?’ asked Danny.
‘Because it’s the truth, son,’ replied Gerry.
‘Dad!’ pleaded Danny as Ottey started to lead him out again.
‘Answer me one question, Danny,’ said Gerry. ‘Did you kill that girl?’
‘No, I didn’t,’ answered Danny. ‘How could you even think that?’
‘I don’t, as it happens. I believe you, which is why there’s no point in starting to lie and create false alibis. It’s not going to help anyone. DS Cross here will get to the truth, I’m sure of it.’
As Ottey led a disbelieving Danny Stokes out into the car park, Stokes senior took hold of Cross’s elbow gently. ‘No need for a duty solicitor,’ he said. ‘I’ll find a lawyer and send him down.’
‘Very well,’ Cross said.