So it must be me then, she decided. Devereux threw down the gauntlet, and I made the mistake of picking it up. I thought I could win. Was I too arrogant? Or just too lazy? Have I really done everything I could have done?
She got out of her chair and left her office. Wandered into the squad room and went straight across to Marcel’s desk.
‘How are we doing with that list?’ she asked.
‘The Toyotas?’
‘Yes, the Toyotas.’
Marcel held up a sheaf of printed papers annotated with lots of his scribbles.
‘Still working on them.’
‘Let me see.’
He handed the list over. She flipped through the pages.
‘Not as many out there as I thought. Looks like you’ve done most of them.’
Marcel picked up another, longer list from his desk. ‘We haven’t started on this lot yet.’
Hannah blew air out the side of her mouth. ‘Shit. All right, give me a few pages.’
‘Boss?’
‘We need everyone we can get on this. The answer’s in there – I know it is. So gimme.’
Marcel handed her a few pages from the top. She went straight back to her office and placed the list in front of her.
‘Right,’ she said to herself. ‘Here we go.’
An hour later, she was starting to regret volunteering. It seemed that almost everyone she spoke to either didn’t understand what was being asked of them, or else led really complicated lives that they felt compelled to bring into the conversation.
One more, she thought, and then I’m breaking for coffee.
She picked up her phone and tapped in the last known number of the next car owner on the list. It rang for ages, and she was on the verge of giving up when it was answered.
‘Hello?’
‘Hello. Is that Mr Rodney Parkes?’
‘Yes.’
‘Hello, Mr Parkes. This is Detective Inspector Hannah Washington of Stockford Police. I wonder if I might ask you a few questions?’
‘Police? Did you say police?’
‘Yes, that’s right. Nothing to worry about, but if I could just—’
‘Why would the police be calling me?’
‘It’s just routine, Mr Parkes. It’ll only take a couple of minutes of your time, if you don’t mind.’
‘Well, okay, but I haven’t done anything wrong, have I?’
‘Not that I’m aware of. Perhaps if you could just let me ask my questions?’
‘Okay. Sure. Go ahead.’
‘Our records show us that you’re the registered owner of a silver Toyota Avensis, is that right?’
‘Sheila.’
‘I’m sorry? Are you saying you’re not the owner?’
‘No. I mean yes, I am the owner, but I call my car Sheila. It’s my wife’s name.’
‘You call your car the same name as your wife?’
‘Yes. In her memory. She died three years ago, rest her soul. The big C. It’s a terrible illness, you know. Terrible.’
‘Yes. I’m sorry to hear—’
‘Anyway, she loved our car. I often suggested getting something different, something newer, but she wouldn’t hear of it. So I’ve still got it. I look after it in the same way I looked after her. When she gets sick, I get her fixed. I wasn’t able to do that with my wife.’
‘No. Could I ask if—’
‘I never break the speed limit, if that’s why you’re calling. I don’t drink and drive, either. I also don’t park on yellow lines or in disabled parking bays. In fact, I’ve never had a fine or points on my licence.’
