‘When I told him we believed his daughter was dead he seemed shocked and distressed. Then when he left the room to go upstairs I thought he was going to collapse and I just got to him before he toppled over. If he was acting it was an Oscar-winning performance. Also there’s that scene at the mortuary, hurling the chair? If you are right he had to have known all along she was dead, which means he fucking locked her up in the bedroom, gave her a good beating with something then strangled her before dumping the body.’
‘Do you think he raped her as well?’
‘God forbid, but it’s possible. I have to say that was the most opportune piss you ever needed.’
She didn’t find it amusing, but had no time to reply as he pulled into the station yard, screeched to a halt, grabbed the warrant from her hand and was out of the vehicle like a shot, heading for the incident room.
Striding in, Bradfield asked Kath where everyone was. She replied that they were all out on enquiries by the Regent’s Canal, or on their way to Coventry. As Jane came in behind him he told her to go back downstairs and arrange for a uniform officer to be on standby to drive them to the Collinses’ house. He also wanted her to use the control-room radio and get two detectives to park up near the Collinses’ house and notify him when the guests were all gone.
‘Yes, sir. Which two officers do you want?’
‘I don’t give a toss – any two will do. I’ll be in my office and get someone to bring me a coffee,’ said Bradfield, raising his voice, impatient now to search the house.
Just over an hour passed before all the guests were gone. Jane was about to inform Bradfield when he walked in snapping an elastic band between his fingers as he approached her.
‘I want you on the search to deal with Mrs Collins as she’s likely to have a nervous breakdown when she hears why we’re there. Here, for you – tie your hair back, Veronica.’
He flicked the elastic band onto her desk and she looked at him, puzzled.
‘Veronica Lake was a movie star who always had her long hair loose. Oh never mind, she was well before your time anyway,’ he said, and went to his office to get his jacket.
Kath looked over with raised eyebrows.
‘Getting on well with the guv, I see? Sergeant Harris’s nose will be even more out of joint. What exactly is the big development?’
Jane was collecting her bag from the drawer and was about to explain everything to Kath when she heard a loud whistle from the corridor and Bradfield’s voice.
‘Come on, come on, let’s go, Veronica!’
When they arrived at the Collinses’ house there were no cars in the drive and the garage door was shut. Bradfield spoke with the two detectives assisting him and they all walked up the path together. He rang the doorbell and stepped back with the warrant in his hand. The sound of a dog barking went on for a few moments before George Collins opened the door. He was wearing an apron and rubber gloves, and looked taken aback. Bradfield explained that he had a search warrant and that he needed to speak to him.
‘It really isn’t convenient – my wife is sleeping and I have to finish the washing up. We’re both very tired-’
‘I’m sure you’d rather I spoke with you here than down at the station, Mr Collins,’ Bradfield said in a stern manner as he stepped into the house forcing Mr Collins to move backwards.
‘What’s happening? Is this to do with my daughter? Have you got some new information?’ Collins asked nervously.
Bradfield didn’t answer his question but introduced the two detectives and told the uniform officer to remain by the front door. Jane thought it strange that a clearly agitated Mr Collins didn’t even ask why they wanted to search his house. He just led them into the living room which had now been cleared of all the glasses and dirty plates.
He started to remove his apron. ‘I won’t be a moment. I need to let the dog out as he scratches at the door.’
Bradfield made him even more uneasy as he followed him into the kitchen where there was a small white elderly terrier who yapped for a moment before he was put out into the garden. Mr Collins removed his rubber gloves and tossed them onto the side of the sink. Rows of wine glasses had been rinsed and neatly placed on the draining board ready to be dried.
As they both returned to the lounge Mr Collins rolled down his shirtsleeves, buttoning the cuffs.
‘My wife is sleeping,’ he repeated, looking as if he didn’t really understand what was going on.
‘My officers need to search Julie Ann’s room.’
He looked surprised. ‘Why?’
‘We didn’t do it before because she hadn’t been home for over a year. It’s just in case there are any little notes, bits of paper, etc – anything that might help us track down her killer as it could have been someone she’s known for years.’
Collins said her room was second on the left upstairs and sat nervously on a wing chair by the fireplace, his bony hands clenched together.
