TWENTY-EIGHT
Jacob spoke. ‘It looks like all the lights were on a timer using the smart speaker.’ He flashed his torch at the wall. The photos looked eerier under torchlight.
Gina stepped out of the room and back into the light of the hallway. The neighbour opposite came running up the stairs and he stared at her. His satchel almost hit her as he removed it from his shoulder. ‘What the hell is going on? One of the neighbours said there was a loud banging sound coming from upstairs and I thought it was my flat.’ He placed his hand over his chest. ‘What’s going on?’
Gina nodded and held her identification up. ‘Do you know where the resident of this apartment is?’
‘No, it’s a short-term rental. I don’t get to know anyone who stays here let alone where they go and when.’
‘Can we speak to you for a minute?’
He creased his brow in thought. ‘I guess. I don’t know him, though.’
‘Him?’ That was a good start.
‘Yes, man, red hair, forties, maybe older but I’m not sure. I thought he might just be here on business for a while. The peoplewho stay here are normally contractors and such. Come in, I need to feed my cat.’
Gina turned to a PC. ‘Will you call this in and get Bernard to send a forensics team here?’ She thought of them already stretched with what they had to process but there was no getting around what needed to be done.
He nodded and led the way as Jacob followed them into the man’s flat.
‘Lounge lights on,’ he commanded. The smart speaker lit up and all the lights came on. A tuxedo cat jumped from the top of a tower and stretched in the middle of the living area. The man quickly emptied a pouch into a bowl and placed it on the floor in front of the washing machine. ‘Have a seat.’ He threw his coat and bag onto the tiny two-seater kitchen table that was positioned against the wall.
Gina sat on the larger settee next to Jacob and the man slumped onto a giant beanbag.
‘So, what’s happened?’
After introductions Gina knew she had to get straight on with it before hurrying back to the station. ‘Tell me a little bit about your neighbour.’
‘Like I said, I didn’t know him. He kept himself to himself. I know he’s a temporary renter because they all are. It’s managed by a letting agent in Cleevesford. I’ve crossed this particular guest on the stairs about three times. I said hello and I think he said hello back or maybe he just nodded. He always looks down… He shouldn’t be here, should he? Is he on the run? Is that why he didn’t want to look up?’
‘We’re looking for him in connection to a serious crime. If you see him or if he comes back, please don’t approach him. Call us straight away.’ Gina passed one of her cards to the man.
‘My mum is meant to be coming over later. Should I tell her not to, just in case he comes back? Actually, scrap that. I’ll go to hers. You’ve got me worried now.’
Gina wanted to say,and you should be,but she refrained. ‘Have you ever heard any noises coming from his flat or seen anyone visiting him?’
‘I think he’s been here for a couple of months, not that I’ve been keeping track. I’m not here all the time so he could be having parties when I’m out, but I can only say what I’ve seen or heard. I’ve seen one visitor and it’s a woman. I’ve heard her voice in the hallway through the door. About a week ago – can’t remember which day – I heard raised voices. He was arguing with someone. I couldn’t hear what they were saying but there was a bit of banging and door slamming. Then there’s the other noises.’ The man swallowed and raised his brows. ‘They’ve become the talk of the block and I know some of the others have complained to the letting agent. It’s the noisy sex, screaming and headboard banging. The woman below them has a little kid. It’s a bit embarrassing for her to hear all the time. The noisy sex is normally followed by the arguing. I really haven’t heard anything else.’
Gina waited for Jacob to catch up with the notes and continued. ‘You’ve been really helpful. Now, are you sure you haven’t seen anything else? It doesn’t matter how big or small, and it might seem like nothing.’
‘I briefly saw her, once, when I came back after choir practice. It was around ten in the evening on a Thursday night about three weeks or a month ago. We crossed on the stairs.’
‘Can you describe her?’
‘Very slim, wearing a long black coat belted around the waist. She had an elegant silhouette. I thought something was odd as she was wearing sunglasses. It was dark and it was October. It screams affair, don’t you think?’
‘Did you see the rest of her face?’
‘Lipstick, dark pink or red – I’m not sure. A white scarf. I’ve remembered more than I thought I would. I must admit, I found something about her attractive, that’s probably why I remembered those little things.’
‘Height?’
‘I don’t know, we were on the stairs. It was hard to gauge.’
‘Hair colour?’
‘She was wearing a white beanie hat. All her hair was tucked into it. Oh, there was one thing that stood out. She had a tiny mole on her upper lip.’
