Sheldon emerged from his office. Anna?' He gestured to her. We've got Murphy's solicitor coming in. He wants to discuss some of the defence queriesthe photograph, et cetera. So when he gets here, take him into interview room one.'

Money for old rope,' Blunt said, sitting at his desk.

Anna looked over to him.

Makes me sick! His barrister will earn more from this trial on fucking Legal Aid than I'll probably earn in a year. We shouldn't have to go to the expense of a trial: we know he did ithe's admitted he did it! Just get him before a judge and bang him up. Better still, give the swine a lethal injection. That's what I'd vote for, but none of these bloody politicians we've got will even contemplate capital punishment, because they're scared of losing their jobs! Do you know, we've got just one probation officer for every thirty-seven convictsthat's on recordand I'm not talkin' about petty criminals. Thirty-seven criminals, right? That's rapists and murderers they are supposed to stop re-offending. It's a farce! They can only spend about three-quarters of an hour with each bastard in an average working week!'

Harry would have continued if the by now very irritated Brandon hadn't interrupted to say that Murphy's solicitor had arrived and was waiting in reception.

Anna asked for him to be taken into interview room one, as Sheldon had suggested.

Brandon turned on her. Go get him yourself, Travis.'

Yeah,' Blunt put in. Better take him or Brandon's cologne might gas him before he makes it down the corridor.'

The other man hurled a book at Blunt, who laughed.

Anna crossed to the door, and then turned to ask Brandon what the solicitor's name was. Brandon, ducking a flying missile from Harry Blunt, said for Anna to watch out: Luke Griffith was a real operator.

Anna left the two men behaving like children, chucking rolled-up papers at each other.

Luke Griffith greeted Anna with a warm handshake. They went from the station reception into a rather small and airless interview room. Griffith drew out a chair for Anna and then sat opposite her. He was wearing an immaculate pin-striped suit and a blue shirt with a white collar and a dark tie. The cuffs of the shirt were also white, and he had tapering, well-manicured hands. He was very clean cut, with a chiselled face and dark eyes; even his hair seemed to be coiffured to perfection.

This shouldn't take long.' His voice was soft and upper class.

Do you want a coffee?'

No, thank you. I had this station's brew when I was last here.' Griffith opened his briefcase and took out a notebook; then, from his pocket, a slim gold pen. Right, now you are Detective Inspector Anna Travis.'

Yes.'

As you know, Arthur George Murphy is my client. All I'm here for is to get a few things cleared up, for me to pass on to his barrister.'

Anna said nothing. Griffith stared at his empty page then wrote the date, checked his wristwatch and noted down the time.

You visited Mr Murphy's sister, a Gail Dunn, now calling herself Gail Sickert?'

Yes.'

And she gave you a photograph?'

Yes.'

This photograph was subsequently used to identify Mr Murphy's associate, Vernon Kramer.'

Yes.'

Which then led you to his residence, where my client was staying.'

Yes.'

He was subsequently arrested, and charged with the murder of Irene Phelps.'

Yes.'

Did you at any time talk to Mr Kramer?'

No.'

Were you present at Mr Murphy's interrogation?'

No.'

Griffith made notes and then tapped the page. Very fortunate discovery, wasn't it?'

Yes.'

Without this photograph, you might not have been able to trace my client.'

Possibly.'

And, as you must be aware, my client admitted to the murder and rape of Mrs Phelps.'

Yes.'

Griffith now tapped his teeth with the pen. And you are aware that Vernon Kramer is being charged with harbouring a known criminal and perverting the course of justice?'

Yes.'

Unpleasant duo.'

I'm sorry?'

I said, unpleasant duobut then, we do what we have to do.'

Anna remained silent.

Mr Murphy is now claiming that Vernon Kramer was a party to the murder of Irene Phelps.'

Anna sat back. No one had been told this.

I doubt if I believe him,' Griffith added, but I nevertheless have to make enquiries, as the defence will automatically want to either use this or dismiss it as fabrication.'

As far as I am aware, Mr Murphy admitted to the murder and at no time made any mention that he had an accomplice,' Anna told him. Again, to my knowledge, there was no DNA or forensic evidence to prove that Mr Kramer was also in Mrs Phelps's flat.'

So you would say he is lying?'

I would say that, yes.'

Can I ask how you obtained the photograph of Mr Kramer and Mr Murphy?'

Murphy's sister, Gail Sickert, gave it to me.'

Did Mrs Sickert also give you Vernon Kramer's name?'

No, she did not. She said that she couldn't recall his name, just that he spoke with a Newcastle accent and had visited her on one occasion some months past.'

So you were not aware that Mrs Sickert had, at one time, had a relationship with Mr Kramer?'

Anna shook her head, stunned. No! In fact, she appeared to resent the fact that her brother, Mr Murphy, had brought him to her home. She didn't like her brother, nor, for that matter, did she want any kind of contact with him. She implied that he had molested her when she was a teenager.'

Griffith spent a few moments writing and then turned the page. So you didn't think it strange that she would keep this photograph of her brother, who you say she implied molested her? Why keep a photograph of him and his friend?'

I have no idea.'

You see, Detective Inspector Travis, I have been told a slightly different version of events: that, whilst Mrs Sickert was out of the room, you took this photograph without permission.'

Anna slapped the table with her hand That is a total lie. I was given the photograph.'

Do you have a witness?'

No, I don't. Mrs Sickert gave me that photograph; I never even asked her if she had one. She volunteered it and searched through a drawer, then she handed it to me. Your client, Mr Murphy, must have got to her or something. Whatever you are trying to do regarding the photograph is really beyond belief. Have you seen the photographs of how Irene Phelps's body was found? And discovered by her twelve-year-old daughter?'

I am aware of the fact that her daughter-'

Who will have to live for the rest of her life with the memory of her mother's raped and brutalized body! Live with the sight of her mother covered in blood, knowing that, as she lay dying, her killeryour clientwas cutting up a sandwich with the knife that had cut her throat.' Anna pushed back her chair. I really have no more time to waste discussing this with you, Mr Griffith. As you said, you don't pick your clients; well, you have a disgusting animal as one. I hope you can sleep at night, trying in any way possible to get him a lesser sentence. He should never be released.'

Detective Sergeant Travis!' Griffith snapped.

Detective Inspector, actuallyand if you want to question me further, do it in court.' And Anna walked out, slamming the door behind her.

She banged through the double doors of the incident room; they swung back and hit the wall.

That bastard Murphy!' she burst out. He's now trying to say that Kramer was also part of the murder, and as for that prick I've just had to be questioned by...'

Blunt came over to her. Shush, it's all bullshit, they're just trying it on. You know those arseholes like to make a name for themselves; they know this is a cut and dried casein and out Guilty verdict. They just want to draw it out.'

Anna had her hands on her hips. Christ, he made me so angry.'

Brandon pointed over to her. I warned youI said he was a smooth bastard. What did he try on?'

Blunt gave her one of their disgusting coffees and she sat at her desk and repeated the interview.

Brandon snorted. So what if you nicked the photograph?'

I didn'tshe gave it to me!'

So that cow is lying and Murphy's lying; we just have to ignore it. We have firmed-up forensic evidence, and we have the ugly piece of shit admitting to the murder. If he's trying to tread water now, that's part of their game to delay the trial and spend a fortune fucking us around, all on Legal Aid.'

Anna was so angry she gulped the coffee down. Well, I'm going to see her, and find out why she's suddenly lying through her rotten teeth.'

Don't bother,' said Blunt.

Yeah, just ignore it,' Brandon agreed.

I can'tshe is accusing me of lying!'

You'll be accused of a lot more in this job if you stay in it long enough, believe you me,' said Brandon cynically.

Blunt returned to his desk. Hang the bastard,' he said, to no one in particular.

Anna drove back up the dirt track to the Sickert house. It had been raining heavily. Her Mini was not the best car in which to drive over such muddy uneven ground. The same array of kids' toys was out on the front lawn: a broken bicycle, a plastic slide and a plastic red pedal car. She stepped over the broken bricks laid out as a path to the front door, but before she got there, Gail Sickert opened it. A skinny little boy with a face covered in freckles was beside her; when he saw Anna, he ran off clutching his Action Man doll.

Gail, it's Anna Travis.' She showed her ID.

I'm not talking to you, and you'd best get out of here before my bloke comes home.'

Threatening to dump pig food over me?' she smiled.

He's gone out for some planks; the hens got out last night, and he'll as good as smash your car up with them, so just go away! I mean it!'

There was a noisy argument from inside the house. Gail turned to yell at her two eldest children, then looked back to Anna. I mean itjust go away. I've got enough on me plate, what with them two off school with colds and doing my head in!'

No, I won't. I want to know why you've told lies about me.'

Piss off!'

You can yell and shout at me as much as you want, but I am not going anywhere until you tell me why you've lied. Don't make me report the fact that your young daughter was found here alone. You think the social services won't step in?'

What fucking lies?'

The photograph, Gailthe one you gave to me. Why have you lied about it being taken without your permission?'

I don't know what you are talking about. My bloke is gonna be back here any minute.'

Yeah, with planksyou said. Now why don't you let me come in and see why your kid is screaming its head off?'

Tina was in the same condition as when Anna was last there, naked apart from a soiled disposable nappy; this time, she also had an empty bottle clenched in her teeth. Gail went to the fridge, shook up some formula and poured it into the bottle she'd yanked out of the child's mouth. It did the trick: the little soul plonked herself down on the stained dirty carpet and gulped as if she was starving.

Do you never change her?' Anna said.

Gail gave her a filthy look and disappeared, returning with a new nappy. She changed the child without bothering to use wipes or clean her up, then sat the little girl in a swing seat, the bottle still in her mouth; with her foot, she made the swing bob up and down.

Won't that give her indigestion?' Anna asked.

No, she likes it. What are you, some social services spy, coming round here snooping? Well, let me tell you, my kids are all fine. I take 'em to the clinic regular as clockwork.'

That's good.'