Another pause. ‘What do you mean by developments?’
Franklin releases a quiet sigh. ‘You mind if we talk inside? I don’t really want to shout this over an intercom.’
A few more seconds of silence pass. The man’s caution doesn’t faze Franklin. He knows he’s going to worm his way in.
‘Okay,’ says the voice. ‘You can come up.’
Franklin hears a buzz and a click. He pushes the door open. As easy as that.
He ascends the staircase in front of him. It smells of damp and decay. At the top, a man is standing in front of a doorway. Skinny guy, clothes hanging off him. Very pale. Like he avoids sunshine, exercise and good food.
‘Mr Hooper?’
‘Yeah. Come in. You’ll have to excuse the mess.’
Franklin nods and follows Toby in. He’s not wearing a disguise like he did the last time he impersonated a police officer, but it’s not going to matter. Toby won’t be describing him to anyone.
Franklin decides that Toby’s use of the word ‘mess’ was an understatement. He doesn’t understand how anyone can allow their home to get in this kind of state. Who owns this many comics? And why do they have to be strewn all over the place? The least he could do is keep them in boxes or on shelves.
A little TLC is what this dump could do with. Some love.
‘I was about to make a cup of tea,’ Toby says. ‘Would you like one?’
Franklin is tempted to reject any offer of food or drink in this cesspit, but he decides that it’s hard to go wrong with a cup of tea. Besides, he’s in no great hurry.
‘Yes, please,’ he says. ‘Not too strong, though. No sugar, and just a splash of milk.’
Toby puts the kettle on. He says, ‘Do you work closely with Mr Cody?’
‘Yes. He’s my sergeant on the Major Incident Team.’
‘And DC Webley too?’
‘Yes. We often work on the same cases.’
‘Are they both busy now?’
‘Yes, they are. Like I said, there have been some developments, and I’m the only one they could spare at the moment. I hope that’s okay?’
Toby shrugs. ‘Sure.’
He makes the tea. Franklin struggles to contain his grimace when he sees the stains on the inside of the fridge.
‘So, what’s happened? Is it bad?’ Toby asks.
‘No. Actually, it’s very good. We’ve found Oliver Selby.’
‘Alexa’s husband? Really?’ He brings two mugs across to the table. Franklin looks down at his tea and thinks it’s somewhat darker than he would like. Probably cheap tea-bags.
‘Yes. He was staying at the house of a woman he’d been having an affair with.’
‘Oh. Wow. And has he admitted killing Alexa?’
‘Not yet. He’s being questioned as we speak.’
‘Wow. And do you think he killed Sam Ridley too?’
‘We do. To be honest, there’s so much evidence against Oliver Selby that it won’t really matter if he confesses or not. He’s going to prison for a long time.’
‘That’s good to know.’ Toby takes a big slurp of his tea. A disgusting sound, thinks Franklin.
‘You’ll probably be asked to give evidence in court.’
Toby puts his mug down. ‘Me? In court?’
‘Yes. Oliver attacked you, didn’t he? He made you tell him about Sam.’
Toby considers this. He looks worried. ‘I suppose so. I’ve never been in a courtroom.’
‘Nothing to it. You just have to tell the truth.’
‘Okay.’ He pauses. ‘Do you know why he killed Alexa?’
Franklin has been waiting for this question. ‘Yes, we do,’ he says. ‘It’s all about love.’
‘Love? I’m not sure what you mean.’
‘You don’t? Surely you know what love is, Toby.’
