Gina had read the notes that were on file about Mr Slater’s laptop. He’d shared the video of his own sexual encounter to a porn site but not the one of his daughter kissing Lauren. ‘How close are you all, in this building?’
‘We’re quite tightknit, I think. We sometimes have weekend drinks, albeit not noisy ones. When we do, we open all our doors and wander around the building freely. It has a house share feel to it even though we all have our private quarters.’
‘Tyrone Heard, does he mix much?’
‘He’s not here as often. His best friend is Madison who, well… you know, the girl who got attacked. He’s made it clear he wants to move out of this block and he doesn’t really gel with the rest of us.’
‘Great, thank you for your time and I’m sorry that we came bearing the news we did. Someone will be in touch soon about the case.’
Lauren stood and awkwardly fidgeted on the spot. ‘I saw Tyrone staring through Amber’s door when it was open one day but I thought it couldn’t be him. I know Tyrone is gay so he wouldn’t be interested in Amber, not in that way. I just don’t get him.’
Gina smiled. ‘Thank you for being so helpful. We’ll be in touch.’
As they left, it worried Gina that the housemates left their doors open quite often and that the front door may have been on the latch – anyone could easily access the building.
52
Gina heard voices coming from downstairs. They peered through the bannister and spotted Corrine and Curtis passing a roll-up between them. ‘May we have a quick word?’ Gina hurried down.
‘No probs.’ Curtis put the cigarette out between his fingers. ‘Sorry about smoking. There’s no alarm in the hall on this floor and it’s cold. Won’t happen again.’
Gina ignored it. The last thing on her mind was Curtis smoking in the communal area. ‘We’re just following up on all your details.’
‘Okay.’ Curtis’s greasy face shone under the stark light.
Gina whipped out her own pad. ‘I have it that you’re studying motor mechanics at Bromsgrove and, Corrine, you’re studying hairdressing at Redditch, is that correct?’
Both of them nodded.
‘Do you know if Tyrone Heard is in?’
‘That dick?’ Curtis popped the unlit roll-up between his lips.
‘What makes you say that?’
‘I don’t know. He just doesn’t make an effort to get on with us. It’s like he thinks he’s above us.’
Corrine nudged him. ‘Don’t say that. You can be a prick sometimes, Curtis.’ She brushed her long blonde fringe from her eyes.
‘Well, it’s true. He never wants to have a drink with us and you only have to see the way he looks down his nose because we’re not at uni and he is.’
‘He doesn’t do that at all. I think the problem is you. You feel inadequate when you see Tyrone because he’s a finer specimen of a man than you are.’ Corrine nudged him in the ribs and laughed.
He giggled back. ‘Whatever, but it’s true, I’m telling you.’
Corrine pushed him again. ‘Tyrone seems okay. When Amber was sick once, he popped his head around her door and asked if she was okay or needed anything from the shops, she told me. He did the same for me too when I had a hangover. Once, when Amber had come back from partying and left her door open, Tyrone made sure she had a blanket over her and a bowl on the floor before closing her door. I think that was last October. He’s a good guy really, he just has his own friends and prefers to hang out with them. Curtis is just jealous that Tyrone is a nice guy.’
‘Like hell.’
Gina wondered if they were both talking about the same Tyrone. Now was a good time to find out. ‘Thank you. Sorry to have kept you.’
Gina hurried up the stairs with Wyre following until they reached the top of the building. She knocked and there was no answer. Placing her ear against the door, she listened but all she could hear was her own heart beating. ‘Can you hear anything?’
Wyre placed her ear on the wood and shook her head. ‘There’s a rustling noise behind this door. It sounds like someone’s in there.’
Knocking again, Gina called out. ‘Tyrone, it’s the police. Please open the door.’
No answer.
