‘His car has been found too, guv. In the next car park up.’
‘And.’
‘There’s a fold-up bike wedged in it.’
‘So he takes Annabel and leaves the car hidden until later in the night when he sneaks out, cycles to where he left it and takes Annabel toFreedom. He then takes the long cycle back, leaving the car by the boat. He’d have known we’d be looking for it. Then Taylor and Grant vanish but he sees Taylor.’ She paused. ‘We know he took Grant but he said he didn’t kill Taylor.’
‘And you believe him?’ O’Connor bit his lip.
‘Yes, I do. He had nothing to lose in saying that. He knew he was going to kill himself. It was something Bernard also said about the footprints in the ground by the field. Evan Bryson is guilty of everything we see before us but not that. I guess some people can’t change even if they look as though they’ve turned their life around. Taylor was immature, she was a lot of things but she was young. Grant had promised her the earth and not delivered. She was totally played by him but seeing Taylor and Grant acting in this manner, had him triggered. Get on the phone. We need to make an arrest.’
SIXTY-SEVEN
‘Have you found her?’ Gina walked into the family room at the station and stared at the man. He stood and walked over with a slight limp, his sciatica obviously playing up.
‘Doug Latham, I’m arresting you on suspicion of the murder of Taylor Caldwell. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence. Do you understand?’
He slowly nodded and sat down again. ‘Just tell me my daughter’s okay and you can do what you like with me.’
‘Your daughter and granddaughter are safe. They’re being checked over in the hospital at the moment.’
He paused and leaned back on the couch. ‘I’m ready. Is this where you take me to one of those horrid little interview rooms and interrogate me?’
Gina nodded and led the way.
A short while later, Gina and Wyre were sitting opposite Doug and the tape had been rolling for a couple of minutes. He’d declined a solicitor.
‘I did it. She was sleeping with Grant and you know what? I know how it feels to be cheated on. That one time, I hurt my wife, I found out she was sleeping with my married friend. Taylor reminded me of her. I was over theirs one day and Taylor was looking after Cally. I don’t know whether it was half term or whether Cally wasn’t well but I turned up with some sweets for her. They weren’t expecting me. I peered through the window and saw Cally watching the TV. I then went around the back. That’s when I saw Taylor and Grant with their tongues down each other’s throats. After, he left her and I stepped behind the garage. When she came out, I said to her, “Hurt my daughter and I promise, I will hurt you.” She just called me old man and told me to get lost. That was it. When I popped to Sainsbury’s, I thought I’d check on Annabel’s house. I let myself in, picked the post up but before turning on the lights, I saw someone in the garden. I thought they were going to burgle the place, until I saw it was Taylor. I grabbed one of Annabel’s knives from the drawer and I ran on the inside of the field, then I stabbed her. I struggled to keep up but I did. After, I hurried back to my car and went. I knew the boy was close behind. I’d watched him staring in shock from behind the trees, and then a woman came. That was my cue to leave. It was all over in what seemed like hours, but it was only about fifteen minutes from start to end.’
Gina sipped her coffee and let him continue.
‘Then, I went home, relieved my neighbours from babysitting and dog watching duties.’ He paused. ‘I’m too old and tired to run, lie or hide. I did what I did for my daughter. She’s never hurt anyone and people always let her down. I’m her father. That’s what fathers do.’
Gina exhaled. That’s not what fathers did. Fathers did not murder the woman that their daughter’s husband was sleeping with.
‘I saw my wife in her and I don’t know what came over me. That red mist had stayed within me for years but… I just couldn’t control it.’ He placed his head in his hands.
It was lunchtime. The CPS had been spoken to. Grant Braddock and Tom Whittle would face their charges. For now, Gina was going to go home, take a long hot shower and head to the hospital. As she tidied up her desk and went to leave, she bumped straight into Briggs. ‘I need to speak to you,’ he said.
‘Okay.’ She looked down.
‘Not here. At yours, later.’
‘Look, I don’t need to hear it.’
‘You do. I need my chance to tell you what’s going on. You deserve that much.’
She checked her watch. ‘I have to get to the hospital.’ Pushing past him, she hurried towards the exit.
‘I’ll see you about seven,’ he called. She didn’t answer.
As Gina left, she caught sight of Nina Abidar sitting on the wall, a cigarette dangling from her lips. Gina sat beside her.
‘Want one?’ She held the cigarette packet up to Gina.
‘No, thank you. I’m really sorry about Omar.’
‘You should have saved my son.’ She wiped her glassy eyes with her hand.
