Кара Хантер - No Way Out

`I finally heard back from Professor Jordan,' says Gis. `The woman Esmond was supposedly harassing is called Lauren Kaminsky. She's a graduate student at Wolfson College.'

`That's only just round the corner from Southey Road.'

`I gave them a call and she's been away for Christmas. Went home to New York. But apparently she should be back this weekend. They'll call me as soon as she's back and we'll go up there. Better to do that sort of thing face to face.'

`What about the appeal?'

I hear him sigh. `I think we're up to thirty-five calls already. Everywhere from Southampton to South Shields and I doubt a single one of 'em is reliable. But the minute you ask the great British public `“ Well, you know how it is.'

I do. Indeed I do.

`And I'm afraid that's not the only thing, boss.' I can hear the diffidence in his voice now. Bad news, clearly. `I was trying not to drag you in at the weekend but it's the parents `“ Samantha's parents.'

`We tracked them down?'

`Not exactly. They're here. Now. In the building. They got our message but they'd already seen the news on their holiday. They came straight from the airport.'

I dump the carrier bags, stand up, reset my brain. A shit job just got ten times shittier. `OK, see them into whichever interview room looks marginally less crap than the others and organize some coffee, would you? I'll be there in twenty minutes.'

Interview with Gregory and Laura Gifford, conducted at St Aldate's police station, Oxford

6 January 2018, 11.05 a.m.

In attendance, DI A. Fawley, DC V. Everett

AF:Can I start by saying how very sorry we are, Mr and Mrs Gifford. You may already be aware, but the fire investigators have found another body. I'm afraid we think it's your daughter. GG:[ reaching for his wife's hand. Mrs Gifford begins to weep ]

We feared as much. Whatever they said on the TV, we knew Samantha would never have left the children alone. It was only a matter of time. We knew they'd find her in that house.

AF:I also want to apologize that we weren't able to inform you about the fire before you saw it on the news. GG:Well, we were on holiday, weren't we. And that's how it is, these days. Wall-to-wall bloody news. AF:All the same, I am sorry. I also need to tell you that these rooms are fitted with recording devices. With your permission, we'd like to keep a record of everything you say. I can't overstate how important this could be to our enquiries. And the last thing we want to do is have to drag you in here again later to answer more questions. LG:[s till weeping ]

But I don't understand what we can possibly tell you. It was just an accident, wasn't it?

VE:We can't be 100 per cent sure of that yet, Mrs Gifford. The Fire Service are still at the house, carrying out their investigations. LG:Are you saying that someone set the fire deliberately? With Samantha and those darling little children asleep inside? Who would want to do such a terrible thing? GG:[ comforting his wife ]

Is that really what you're saying, Inspector?

AF:I know how frustrating this must be but at the moment it's impossible to be sure either way. That's why we wanted to talk to you. You must know far more about the family than anyone else. GG:[ exchanging a glance with his wife ]

Well, I'm not sure what we can tell you. We haven't seen Samantha that much recently.

VE:Was that normal? LG:No, not really. We used to see them quite a lot `“ we live in the Lakes so they'd come up for holidays. Matty used to go out with Greg in the rowing boat `“

[ she breaks down again, crying into her handkerchief, her voice muffled ]

He's such a sweet, sweet boy.

AF:When did you last see your daughter, Mr Gifford? GG:It must have been late June. My wife's birthday. They stayed overnight. AF:That's quite a long time ago. GG:It's a long way, Cumbria. At least, that's what Michael's always saying. AF:So you obviously didn't see them at Christmas? GG:We did that Skype thing `“ so we could see Matty and Zachary open our presents. AF:And how did the rest of the family seem? GG:Michael wasn't on the screen very much. He was just in and out in the background. LG:They were in the nursery. Samantha had it decorated so beautifully. She had such a good eye for things like that. AF:And how were they when you saw them in June? GG:OK, I suppose. Samantha was a bit quiet, but she said Zachary had been keeping her awake with a tummy upset, so she hadn't been getting much sleep. AF:And Michael? GG:Much like normal. AF:[ pause ]

Do you get on with your son-in-law, Mr Gifford?

GG:I've always found him a bit of a pompous shit, if you really want to know `“ LG:Greg `“ the man is missing `“ GG:I know that , Laura. And our grandson is dead, and if he had anything to do with it `“ anything at all `“ AF:What makes you say that, Mr Gifford? GG:Oh, I don't know `“ he could have annoyed someone `“ LG:Greg `“ please `“ AF:Did you have someone particular in mind? GG:[ pause ]

No.

AF:So he has no enemies, that you were aware of? GG:That's not the sort of thing I'd know about. All I can say is that I can see him getting up someone's nose. AF:Do you know if the family keeps any money or valuables in the house? LG:You think it was a burglary? GG:Surely there'd be some evidence if someone had broken in? Damage to the door or something? AF:The degree of fire damage in this case means it's going to be some time before we get any definitive answers on that. So in the meantime, as I said `“ GG:You don't know either way. Right. AF:There's no mortgage on the house, I believe. Is it a family property? GG:They had a jewellery business `“ or did have. Sold it about twenty years ago, and made a packet. At least, that's what Michael said. AF:So there might have been some expensive jewellery in the house? LG:Michael has a gold pocket watch that must have been worth quite a bit. It was his great-grandfather's, I think. Had something on it in Polish. `Blood is thicker than water' `“ something like that. Family was a really big thing with them. AF:I'll check whether we've found a pocket watch at the scene. Was there anything else? GG:I never saw anything. He never gave anything like that to Samantha, that I do know. They got her engagement ring at H. Samuel. LG:They were just students, Greg `“ GG:Don't you think I know that? They should never have got married so quickly. Samantha was far too young. And as for having a baby `“ VE:I'm not sure what you mean? Did she have problems with the pregnancy? LG:It wasn't so much that. It was a lot to adjust to, that's all. Most new mums take a while to get used to it. She doted on Matty.

[ starts to sob again ]

AF:I think we'll leave it there for now. DC Everett will arrange for an officer to take you to the hospital to see your grandson. She'll also be your Family Liaison Officer, so if there's anything you need, or any questions you want to ask, she's the person to speak to.***

Out in the corridor I wait for Everett to shepherd them along to reception.

`I said I'd go with them to the John Rad,' she says when she comes back. `Probably best if it's me `“ those units can be pretty intimidating if you're not used to them.'

I remember, as I always do in these circumstances, that Ev was training to be a nurse before she switched to the police.

`If they're up to it, I'll take them to ID Samantha afterwards.'

`So, what do you think?' I ask. She's good at picking up undercurrents, Ev. It's one reason I wanted her there.

She takes a deep breath. `No love lost with the father-in-law, eh?'

I nod. `The more I find out about Michael Esmond the less I think I'd like him.'

`Me too, boss. But even if he did have a talent for hacking people off, it's a long way from that to someone setting fire to his bloody house.'