‘Officer, I’m sure you must hear it a lot but they were good people,’ Gavin offered. ‘They weren’t loud or flashy or arrogant. They didn’t advertise their wealth, they donated to various charities and kept themselves to themselves.’
‘No neighbour issues or disgruntled employees?’ she asked, turning to Daryl.
‘Capable of murder?’ he asked incredulously. ‘We employ over three hundred people and I’d like to think not one of them is capable of doing something like this.’
‘Even so, Mr Hewitt, I’d appreciate you taking a minute at work to look over recent dismissals, complaints or grievances. You never know how someone might react if they get desperate.’
He opened his mouth as if to argue but closed it again.
‘If you could all give it some thought and let us know if you can think of anything at all, however small.’
‘I’ll have a think,’ Daryl said, pushing himself up from the arm of the chair. He looked to his wife. ‘Darling, I really must…’
‘Are you taking the piss?’ Rachel snarled. ‘You’re heading off to work, barely five minutes late, after what we’ve just been told?’
He coloured slightly. ‘The detective has asked me to look for—’
‘I don’t think she meant in the next ten minutes but go – just go.’
He hesitated for just a minute before grabbing his suit jacket from the back of the chair.
He leaned in to kiss his wife on the cheek. She turned her face away.
As he left the room, Kim exchanged a look with Bryant.
He coughed, then coughed again, and again.
‘Sorry, Mrs Hewitt, may I trouble you for…’
‘Oh my goodness. I’m sorry. Where are the manners my mum taught me? May I offer you a drink, officers?’
‘Water please,’ Bryant said.
‘Coffee, black, no sugar,’ Kim said, rising from her chair.
She offered her colleague a light smile in appreciation of his acting abilities.
‘Rachel, I’ll just come and give you a hand.’
TWENTY-NINE
Penn headed down to the interview room with his folder.
He’d seen a male in his late twenties approach the building and chain-smoke two cigarettes before stepping through the doors. From the boss’s description, he was guessing it was Reece Porter.
He wasn’t surprised to see the man sitting behind the desk of interview room one, tapping a disposable lighter against the edge.
Penn offered his hand and immediately understood why the boss had asked him to take this statement. Penn knew that both his appearance and demeanour were non-threatening. His unruly blonde hair tended to defy any kind of restraint. The curls flopped around his face, and his inability to wear any suit smartly gave the impression he wasn’t really a police officer – not a serious one anyway. And that worked well. He intimidated no one. Meaning people normally relaxed in his presence.
Lynne had been very relaxed in his presence the previous evening before Stacey had turned up. He wanted to call her but had no idea what to say. He pushed the thoughts away.
‘Thanks for coming in, Reece,’ he said. First names promoted intimacy and ease. ‘If we could just talk generally for a bit about your knowledge of the family and then I’ll take your statement about Saturday night, Sunday morning. Sorry, this is a no-smoking building, but any time you wanna nip out for a smoke just let me know.’
Penn saw the man visibly relax. There was nothing more threatening to a smoker than being told you couldn’t.
‘How well did you know the Daynes family?’
‘Not all that well. They always kept themselves to themselves. They didn’t really mix with any of the neighbours. I mean it’s not likeCorrieor anything like that but the odd party or barbecue on the lane. They never came.’