‘We’ve contacted most of the people who live in flats above the various business premises. Only one had anything to say really. The woman in the flat on the corner of Stone Lane, nearest to where the body was found, did hear something suspicious, though it doesn’t amount to a lot.
‘She was woken by what she described as “a screeching sound”, just before ten thirty. She goes to bed early, apparently. She looked out of her window and saw a couple of tomcats squaring up to each other. So she just assumed she’d heard a cat fight, went back to bed and thought no more of it.’
‘The time probably fits, doesn’t it?’ remarked Saslow. ‘Was she sure of that, John?’
‘Said she checked her bedside clock when she woke up.’
‘CCTV?’ queried Vogel.
‘Still being looked at, boss. We’re also trying to track down as many as we can of the bar and restaurant customers. We’ve put out an appeal, but nothing more so far. I checked on the phone with the lads right after I left the Cooke’s place.’
‘Right, well, let’s hope we get luckier this afternoon,’ said Vogel. ‘We need to order now, then get out of here.’
Saslow chose a beetroot and goat’s cheese salad, much as Vogel had predicted. He went for a cheese and potato bake, with roasted tomatoes and basil on the side. Willis said he’d have what the boss was having. He didn’t even look at a menu.
‘Will you fill me in a bit more on the stepdad, boss?’ Willis asked. ‘What did his bit on the side have to say? You said his alibi checks out?’
Vogel nodded. ‘Yes, I think so. Of course, Fisher won’t be out of the frame until we have the DNA results and they may not be conclusive either, but his, as you call her, “bit on the side”…’
Vogel paused, a wry smile flickering on his lips. It was not a description he would ever have used of the woman he’d just met in Bath. But it was typical enough of the attitude of most male coppers he knew.
‘… Daisy Wilkins, is quite adamant that he spent the entire night with her,’ Vogel continued. ‘And I don’t think she is the sort of woman who would lie to the police.’
Willis’s expression gave nothing away. But Vogel was aware of Dawn Saslow regarding him somewhat quizzically. He ignored the DC.
‘We need to go through that girl’s life and the whole extended family with a damned toothcomb,’ Vogel continued. ‘Let’s check the whereabouts of everybody close to her on the night she died and hope to God we come up with something, or someone who’s a real suspect.
‘Because, if it’s nobody from the family, if we have the unusual one, if it is an outsider, well, you both know what that means, don’t you?’
Saslow nodded, her mouth full of beetroot and cheese.
‘Yes, boss,’ said Willis. ‘It means we are looking for a random killer, probably a total nutter. At the very least, a sexual pervert. More than likely somebody who kills for kicks, with no motive, just because they damn well like it.’
‘Yes,’ agreed Vogel. ‘And those bastards are the hardest of all to catch.’
Saslow swallowed hard, clearing her mouth.
‘But we are going to get this one, guv, whatever the MO aren’t we?’ she asked.
Vogel pushed his quickly-emptied plate to one side and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. ‘I hope so Saslow,’ said Vogel. ‘I really do.’
‘I think we should have a damned good look at the girl’s father,’ said Willis, diverting attention back to the man who was clearly his favourite suspect. ‘It’s a pretty ropey set up he has with his second wife and she indicated that he always put Melanie on a pedestal. If the girl’s been running a bit wild, potentially dating on the internet, hanging out with the wrong crowd or even if he just thought she was, that could have made him pretty mad. Plus, he’s sure to have been pissed off about her not bothering to see him half the time.’
‘But is he the sort to sexually assault his own daughter?’ asked Dawn Saslow.
Willis shrugged. ‘He’s the sort who knocks his missus about, I’m damned sure of that,’ he said.
‘Doesn’t mean he ever laid a finger on his daughter,’ responded Vogel. ‘Not in any way at all.’
‘OK, but we don’t know that, do we?’ Willis persisted. ‘The girl’s clothing was ripped and torn, her breasts were bruised and exposed, as were her private parts, but we don’t know yet whether or not there was penetration. Certainly, there was no obvious presence of semen. He could have lost his temper with her and attacked her. Then realised he’d gone too far and deliberately faked signs of sexual abuse to lay a false trail.’
Vogel looked thoughtful. His phone buzzed. He took the call straight away.
‘Well, that’s fascinating,’ he murmured. He looked as if he was being told something of considerable significance. By the time he’d finished the other two officers were both staring at him intently.
‘We’ve just had Melanie Cooke’s phone records from her mobile provider,’ he said. ‘Seems like her father made no less than twenty-one calls to her over the three days before her death. She didn’t pick up any of them, nor respond with a text or call back.’
Willis looked as if he wanted to say he’d told them so, but remained silent.
‘There must have been something going on then,’ said Saslow.
Vogel nodded.
‘Shall I bring him in, boss?’ asked Willis. ‘We need to get him processed fast. There’s always a wait for DNA.’
‘Hold on a minute,’ said Vogel. ‘Cooke’s supposed to be coming in this afternoon under his own steam. We made an appointment for two thirty at Patchway. He’s just formally identified his daughter, which is always an ordeal. Before we get heavy, let’s see if he turns up. I think we could get more out of him if we don’t alarm him too much.’
‘Fair enough,’ said Willis. ‘But we shouldn’t just leave him to the process boys, should we? He should be watched throughout. Do you want me to get over there?’
‘That wouldn’t be a bad idea, Willis. Go and babysit him through it. Be sure to treat the man like the genuinely bereaved father he purports to be, whilst at the same time try to wheedle all you can out of him. If he doesn’t turn up by three o’clock at the latest though, the gloves are off. Go get him.’
‘You got it, boss,’ said Willis, putting down his knife and fork at once and preparing to stand up.
Willis was a slow and methodical eater, almost half of his meal remained on his plate.
‘Finish your food man,’ ordered Vogel, shaking his head. ‘It’s not two o’clock yet.’
Obediently, Willis sat down again.
‘You need to look after yourself more,’ said Vogel. ‘And I forgot to ask. You were fighting a migraine yesterday, are you OK?’
‘Oh fine, boss, yeah. Well over it.’
‘Thank God,’ said Vogel. ‘Would hate for you to go sick on me with this lot on our hands.’
‘No chance, boss,’ said Willis.
‘I know,’ responded Vogel, grinning.
He turned to Saslow.
‘Get back to headquarters, Dawn,’ he instructed. ‘Liaise with DI Hartley. Then start checking recorded paedophile behaviour in the Bristol area, particularly dating websites aimed at youngsters and anything to do with grooming. Start with the most recent records.’
Saslow looked mildly surprised.
‘I thought we were concentrating on the family, boss,’ she said.