All the Rage

Adam Fawley
5 April 2018
12.58

The uniformed PC ushers Brotherton and his solicitor out, and when the door closes behind them, Somer turns to me. `˜What do you think?'

`˜What do I think? I think he's lying through his teeth.'

Somer nods. `˜I know `“ I agree. I just can't work out why. He has a rock-solid alibi for both attacks, and he knows it. We can't touch him for either of them, so why take such a huge risk to protect someone else?'

We sit there for a moment in silence. There are muffled sounds of voices from the interview room next door. Whoever's in there, things are obviously getting heated.

`˜Perhaps the witness was wrong about the van,' says Somer at last. `˜She did say she couldn't be completely sure about that logo.'

And eye-witness accounts are notoriously unreliable. We all know that.

`˜OK, let's go through the motions of confirming where Martyn Ramsgate was that morning. I'd bet my mortgage he has nothing to do with it, but we still need to check.'

She nods and makes a note.

`˜And start asking around `“ see if any of Brotherton's friends has any sort of record. And get Ramsgate's permission for a full forensic search of that van.'

* * *

When Ev pops out for a sandwich the old man is sitting in reception, hunched on a hard plastic chair, in the cold draught from the front door.

`˜Mr Brotherton?' she says. `˜It's Verity Everett, do you remember me?'

He looks up at her tetchily. `˜Of course I remember you. I'm not bloody senile.'

He has a newspaper open on his lap, and Everett can see that his hands are trembling slightly.

`˜You must have been here for hours. Is there anything we can get you? Tea?'

He frowns. `˜I've had three cups already. How much longer is Ash going to be?'

`˜I'm not sure. I wasn't in on the interview.'

He looks at his watch. It's an old-fashioned one with a snakeskin strap and a white face yellowed with age. `˜I've got an appointment at the JR in half an hour and we're already cutting it fine. Ash said he'd run me.'

`˜Oh,' says Everett. `˜I didn't realize. Let me check.'

She goes over to the phone on the front desk and calls Somer, but when she comes back her face is rueful. `˜I'm afraid your grandson is still being interviewed. And his van is being taken in for forensic testing.'

The old man frowns. `˜So how am I going to get to the hospital? It'll take me half an hour just to get to the bloody bus stop.'

But this, at least, is something she can fix.

`˜Give me a minute and I'll see if we can sort you out a lift.'

* * *

Interview with Ashley Brotherton, conducted at St Aldate's Police Station, Oxford

5 April 2018, 1.50 p.m.

In attendance, DI A. Fawley, DC E. Somer, J. Hoskins (solicitor)

AF: Mr Brotherton, we've now spoken to Ramsgate again and they've confirmed all their vans were definitely at Bicester on the morning of April 1st. Martyn Ramsgate was on holiday, but that was the week before, and both he and his van were logged in at the hotel site by 8.00 a.m. that day. So I'm going to ask you again `“ who else could have had access to your van?AB: No comment.[to his lawyer]

I can say that, right?AF: There's a big difference between being able to say it, and it being a good idea.JH: Inspector `“AF: I don't understand your reluctance, I really don't. We know you were at your grandmother's funeral that morning, and we have CCTV footage of you at the John Radcliffe at the time Sasha Blake went missing. Help me out here, can't you, because I really don't get it.AB: Yeah, well that's my business, ain't it.AF: Well, if that's how you want to play it, it's your call. But you should be aware that we've asked Ramsgate Renovations for permission to search the van.AB: You can't do that `“ it's my bloody van!ES: I'm afraid we can, Mr Brotherton. They're the registered owner of the vehicle, not you.AB: But I've got private stuff in there `“ES: That makes no difference. Sorry.AF: I would also like to repeat our previous request for fingerprints and a DNA sample. As we said before, this is entirely voluntary, to allow us to eliminate you from our enquiries. Feel free to discuss it with Mr Hoskins.AB: [confers with lawyer]

OK, yeah.

[pause]

But only if you back off on the other thing, OK? I'll give you the prints and stuff but only if you drop the van.ES: I'm afraid that's not how it works, Mr Brotherton.AB: Well, fuck you `“

JH: [restraining his client]

We agree to the DNA and fingerprinting. I trust my client will be free to go home after that?AF: In due course. The van, however, will be subject to a forensic search. I'm afraid your client will be taking the bus.* * *