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There was a stir in the rooround on Melanie Dreork colleagues, fa Drew As I said, we’ve done house-to-house in the avenue itself buthave to spread that out into the adjacent streets--that’s Caledecott Avenue, Tyler Road, Binsey Road and the cul-de-sac at the end of there called Inkerton Close People hanging round, unfa at thein an hour, we need them onside Tomorroe’ll have posters, unifor out leaflets, ant to be sure anyone as shopping there yesterday afternoon knows about it Television news have it, Radio Bev has had it on several bulletins and they’re running an appeal for info I also want to go further back on Melanie Drew--previous place of work? We know she went swi most days--I want soht have known her there School She went to the Sir Eric Anderson until sixteen, then to Bevhae of FE, so inquiries up at both--friends she had, any she still kept in with OK, that’s it for now, plenty to do Thanks"

"Needle in haystack, then?" DC Warren Beevor said on his way out

"I know," Serrailler said He neveras he heard the, not outside, and they represented a reflex reaction, not an attitude of , sir?" DC Vicky Hollywell, small, plump, face folded into a perpetual expression of worry

"No I’," Vicky said anxiously "Just in case we need you"

You would never believe, Si quickly down the concrete stairs, that Vicky Hollyas one of their best and brightest, who caestions time after tiet her h Lafferton, thinking He planned to talk to Craig Drew later, but first wanted to spend more time at the flat in Dulles Avenue He had been there on the evening of the murder, before Melanie’s body had been moved, but, in his experience, he could learn more from a solitary, careful assess ment later when the crime scene had beco It would also be less busy Tootheir very necessary jobs but lending the place a highly charged and unnatural ats with appalling crime scenes, on his first case in coeted by an arsonist Four cottages on or near working farms, but in fairly reht All had been occupied and a total of seven people had died including two children, all but one of the bodies burned beyond recognition A fifth cottage had then gone up in flames, and another person had almost died

After three weeks on that case, Serrailler had been glad to return to Lafferton and his new position as Detective Chief Superintendent, heading up CID He had resisted a posting to Bevha--to look for another job outside the area if he was not offered Lafferton Fortunately, the Chief Constable had either taken his threat seriously or pretended to, and the Bevham idea was dropped

He slowed as he turned into Dulles Avenue A lot of the large houses here had been converted into flats during the past twenty years or so It was a pleasant part of the town but not the e houses were all still intact as single dwellings In the sixties Dulles Avenue had been like that Then it had gradually becoe houses died and many properties fell eain Serrailler could see the police tape sealing off the crime scene He parked on the opposite side of the road, well down froht and left Here, a spruce drive hite-painted fencing and a well-kept front lawn, a closed gate There a scruffy drive with a badly parked ate Here a house name--Belmont--next door to it just a number; after that, a house with half a dozen name slots beside an entryphone A white cat sat on the wall, watching him as he approached He stopped and put out his hand but the cat leapt away into some laurel bushes

It was quiet Most of the drives were empty, no one looked from front s so far as he could tell People were at work Anyone could drive or walk up Dulles Avenue, stop, go into a house, coain ten or twenty minutes later, and do so entirely unobserved

He neared nu on duty at the front door A car ca at the house The red-and-white tape ain

A few yards away Si inside it As he approached, the passenger door opened "Super?"

Adam Phillips frorapher

Si rude and obstructive to the press so long as they kept their side of the bargain

"Hello, Ada another look round, now forensics are out of the way, but I doubt I’ll have anything to report"

"Mind if I co a briefing at four I want to catch the local TV and radio news"

"Anything you can tellaway, "if I could Sorry I’ you in the dark"

Adam nodded and went back to the car

But the DCS noted that the pressman did not drive away

He ducked under the tape Stood, looking around him Tarmac drive A couple of bushes in front of a low brick wall Neat and tidy Well-kept ork on front door andframes The door was open with ain, it ell maintained Clean Staircase recently painted Quiet Unnervingly quiet

There was a second uniforht He re of things to think about

"Sir"

"Morning Nothing doing?"

"Not a thing You going in, sir? It’s not locked"

"Thanks Yes, I’hts of stairs to the top had rubberised treads so the noise of anyone coh It would depend on the shoes

The landing s fluid

Melanie Drew had co

Serrailler opened the door Silence came out of the empty flat, a blank, deathly, oppressive silence

After a few seconds he went inside

Any house, any room, in which there has been a recent murder, has its own atmosphere He had learned that over the years and had experienced it often There was so of intense sadness and stillness, ofinto a luxury Docklands penthouse, acco man, and the dreadful wave that had all but hit him in the face, the vivid sensation of pent-up violence and evil They had both felt it, looked at one another and hesitated to go in

Thefrom a steel beam by leather cuffs and diseed itself forever soht, newly furnished flat where Melanie Drew had been shot there was a feeling of absolute e room first Then the es, com and "Cream lamp and shade" or "Navy towel bale X 2" or "Casserole trio--Blue"

His footsteps echoed on the polished wood floor