Кара Хантер - No Way Out

The following morning's meeting takes no more than ten minutes. The case is turning ground-hog now. Round and round and round we go. Dead ends, false starts, blind alleys. Paperwork, legwork, phonework. Though we do have one new angle: the Esmond financials have finally come through. And as Gislingham always says, if it's not love, it's money `“ though unfortunately for Baxter, money's a lot less interesting to investigate. When I look into the incident room later he has his chin resting on one hand, staring at his computer screen. And beside him there's a coffee and one of those chocolate bars his wife doesn't know he's still eating. But I won't tell if you don't.

At 9.45 a.m. Quinn kicks open the door to Esmond's study and dumps his bag on the floor. This time he's fully prepared. Not just more pods for the coffee machine, but an almond croissant from the French patisserie in Summertown and a sandwich in case he gets peckish. As he stands making the espresso, he can hear the clatter of rubble as the investigators tip debris into wheelbarrows and cart it away. The sky is bright and there's even some doomed blossom on the trees, but he's bloody glad he's in here in the warm and not outside freezing his balls off and up to his knees in crap. The only thing he's going to have to contend with is boredom: Esmond was obviously one of those people who file every bit of paper they're ever handed. There are till receipts and card statements in bulldog clips, organized by month, and utilities bills and council tax arranged by year. There's even a box file with family photo albums and some of Esmond's old essays and school reports from the Griffin. According to his fourth-form history teacher he was already `driven and uncompromising' when he was fourteen, and by the time he was doing A levels the woman who taught him geography was referring to him as `pushing himself, if anything, a little too hard'. Which chimes pretty well with the man Annabel Jordan described.

Quinn digs a little deeper into the box and finds a ring binder from what must have been Esmond's first year at the school. The first sheet is headed up `My Family'. Intrigued, Quinn takes it out, leans back in his chair and starts to read.

My Family

I think family is very important. It's important to know where you come from. I am very proud of my family. It goes back to Victorian times. My great-grandfather came to England from Poland. His name was ZACHARJASZ ELSZTEJN. He came here because he wanted to be a success. He had a dream that he would have his own company and make a lot of money. He started a jewelry jewellery shop in the East End of London. It was called Zachary Esmond and Son. He had to change his name because no one in England knew how to spell the other one. He bought two more shops to start with and then he bought another one in Nightsbridge Knightsbridge. It was near Harrods. It was very small but it was in a good place. After that he was very successful. My father has a gold watch that belonged to my great-grandfather. It is a big watch with a chain. You don't wear it on your wrist like now. It has a motto on it in Polish. It says `Blizsza koszula ciału'. In English that is `the body is closest to the shirt'. My Dad says it means that the things that are closest to us are the most important, and family is the most important of all.

My family have lived in Oxford since 1909. My great-grandfather came on a visit to the city and thought it was very beautiful. There were houses being built in Southey Road then and he bought one. He was the one who gave it its name. It is called Felix House which means `lucky' in Latin. It's because he felt lucky to live here. We are the only family who have ever lived in it. I don't think there are any other houses like that round here. My grandfather also worked in the company and my father does now. I think my older brother Philip will do it too. When I grow up I would like to go to Oxford University. That is MY dream.

Before HM Coroner Oriana Pound

Oxford Coroner's Court

County Hall, New Road, Oxford.

Inquests conducted: Wednesday 10th January 2018 11 a.m. `“ Samantha Esmond, aged 33, and Zachary Esmond, aged 3, died 04/01/2018 in Oxford; and Matthew Esmond, aged 10, died 07/01/2018 in Oxford.

Following representations from the Crown Prosecution Service, the inquest was adjourned pending further enquiries by the police. Given the possibility of criminal charges, Mrs Pound ordered a second post-mortem on the three deceased, so that the bodies can be released to the family for burial.

Telephone interview with Jason Morrell, Walton Manor Motors, Knatchbull Road, Oxford

11 January 2018, 11.50 a.m.

On the call, DC A. Asante

AA:This is DC Asante. The switchboard said you have some information for us `“ something relating to the Southey Road fire? JM:Yeah, it's about the car. If you're looking for it, it's here. At the garage. We did the MOT last week and it's been on the forecourt ever since. Had to change one of the tyres but otherwise it passed OK. It's parked out the front ready to go. AA:I see. When did Mr Esmond bring the car in? JM:Must have been Tuesday sometime. Mick booked it in `“ hold on `“

[ muffled noises ]

Yep `“ definitely Tuesday 2nd. About 9.15 in the morning.

AA:Did any of you speak to him after that? JM:I left a couple of messages about the tyre back end of last week. Just to say it had to be done to get the car through so to call me if there was a problem, otherwise I'd just go ahead. He didn't call back. AA:Your colleague `“ Mick `“ does he remember anything unusual about Mr Esmond that morning? Anything that struck him? JM:Blimey, now you're asking. Hold on.

[ more muffled noises ]

Just said he was in a hurry. A bit offhand. But they're all like that round here, mate. Par for the course.

15 July 2017, 3.12 p.m.

173 days before the fire

23 Southey Road, Oxford

Michael leans back in his deckchair and closes his eyes, the sun warm on his skin. After the barbecue and that couple of beers he doesn't feel much like working. He hadn't been relishing the prospect of Philip's visit but it's actually been a good few days. Sam was looking better than she has for weeks, and Matty's spent more time outside and less time on that bloody Xbox.

He can hear the summer hum of the lawnmower further down the garden and, closer, the shrieks and splashes of excitement from the paddling pool. Philip is teaching Matty to body surf. With pretty limited success as far as Michael can see. He opens his eyes briefly, sees Philip at the tap filling the pool again, then leans back. He must have dozed off because when he comes to he can hear his wife and Philip talking a few yards away. They're speaking low, so they must think he's asleep. He was going to open his eyes but something makes him change his mind. At first the talk is just trivial stuff. Where Philip's planning to take the boat in the autumn. How Mum is doing. Then, suddenly, the mood changes.

`Look,' he says, tentative, `you can tell me to sod off and mind my own business if you like, but is everything OK?' There's a creak in the deckchair; he must be leaning towards her.

`What makes you say that?' she says, wary.

`I don't know `“ I just get the impression you have something on your mind. You seem unhappy. To me, anyway.'

There's a silence. Sam must have gestured towards her husband because Philip says, `Don't worry, he can't hear you. All that Stella `“ he's been out for the count for the last half hour.'