‘You went to see William Daynes on Saturday night,’ Kim said, calling his bluff.
Roy frowned first at her then at his son.
Davey began to shake his head.
‘We have CCTV,’ she said, not divulging that it was a poor quality, obscure image of someone that looked like him a quarter mile from the house.
‘You used the public footpath that leads from the road,’ she said, taking a leap.
‘Son?’ Roy asked.
He swallowed. ‘Yes, okay. I walked that way. I considered knocking on the door to ask William to reconsider, to give us the business back.’
‘Oh, Davey, it was way too late for that,’ Roy said, shaking his head.
‘I had to at least try, Dad. They took everything from us. I just wanted to talk to him.’
‘And did you?’ Kim asked.
Davey shook his head, looking miserable. ‘I bottled it. I carried on walking. I followed the footpath into Stourbridge, got a pizza and went home.’
‘Alone?’ Kim asked. With a few more details, it was a checkable story.
‘Yeah, alone,’ he said, pushing his hands into his pockets.
‘Were you still angry?’ Kim asked. There was nothing to have stopped him trying again later.
‘I was angry at myself for not having the bollocks to knock on the door.’
Roy shook his head.
‘I didn’t do anything, Dad, I swear. I was just trying to help,’ he said, stung by his dad’s disapproval.
‘It was all gonna be mine,’ he said, looking around at the empty space.
‘I know, son, but it was my mistake. I shouldn’t have relied—’
‘No, it’s their fault. If that wanker hadn’t turned William’s head…’
‘Daryl Hewitt?’ Kim asked, reacting to the venom in his voice.
‘Who else?’
‘And what about Rachel? Were you angry at her for not stopping her husband?’
Colour flooded into his face.
‘What’s Rachel got to do with this?’ Roy asked. ‘They’ve been friends since they were kids.’
‘Rachel Hewitt died yesterday afternoon, Mr Burston. She was killed by a speeding lorry on Brierley Hill High Street.’
Kim waited to see if Davey would offer anything. Stacey had sent her the image and this one was unmistakeably him.
‘You were there, in the high street. You walked right past her.’
‘Wait a minute,’ Roy protested. ‘Don’t even suggest—’
‘Did you see her?’ Kim asked, ignoring his father.