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mother,' the receptionist corrected him. 'Robert goes to Swindon for a meeting every month. His mother lives there. He stays with her Thursday and Friday night, spends Saturday with his mother, and drives back down on Sunday. I think he goes to see his mother every weekend, actually.'
      'And what about Mrs Lakeland?'
      'She lives somewhere near Swindon. That's why he goes there.'
      'His wife, I mean.'
      'Oh, he's not married,' the receptionist said.
      His colleagues confirmed that John Drew had been at work the previous morning. He had no test drives in the book, and they definitely remembered him being 'around' but when pressed, neither of them could positively swear he'd been there all morning.
      'Is it possible he might have slipped away for an hour or so? Left the showroom completely?' Carter asked the girl.
      She hesitated. 'I didn't see him leave,' she replied.
      'But it's possible?'
      'I wouldn't have thought so, but I suppose he could have done.' She sounded doubtful.
      Morrissey was equally vague. 'I was out myself,' he explained. 'I think you'll find I had a couple of test drives yesterday morning.' Black checked. Morrissey had one test drive booked for ten o'clock.
      'How long were you away from the showroom?' Morrissey reckoned he'd been gone for about twenty minutes. He'd spent some time chatting to a customer. He thought it unlikely John Drew could have left the showroom for about an hour without anyone noticing his absence.
      'I just can't promise, hand on heart, he didn't go out. I never saw him leave and I never saw him come back in. But I was very busy.'
      'What about CCTV?'
      Morrissey shook his head. 'The CCTV just covers the forecourt. It's only staff cars at the back.'
      'One final question, Mr Morrissey,' Carter said. 'Did you know Angela Waters?'
      'Doesn't ring a bell. Should I know her?'
      'Mr Drew's girlfriend.'
      'Oh Angie. Johnny's girl. Yes, he's mentioned her but I've never met her. Is this something to do with her then? She in some sort of trouble?' The two policemen exchanged a glance before Black explained the reason for their visit. Marcus Morrissey whistled. 'Jesus. So that's why Johnny's not in today. Do you think he did it?'
      'We're just carrying out routine enquiries, Mr Morrissey. Is there any particular reason why you think John Drew might be responsible?'
      Morrissey looked taken aback. 'Good lord no. It's just that you're here, asking questions. I thought, perhaps … Well, nothing. Just that you're here, that's all,' he mumbled in confusion.
      'This is a routine visit, Mr Morrissey.' Carter handed each of them a card and asked them to be sure to contact him if they remembered anything about John Drew's movements the previous morning. He thanked them for their assistance and the two detectives left.
      'They seem on the level,' Carter commented as they drove off.
      'Not much help though,' Black replied.
      'Perhaps Robert Lakeland will be more definite.'
      Black grunted. 'Couldn't be less definite than those two,' he said. 'Shame people can't be more observant. Not much use, were they?' He sounded disappointed.
      Carter smiled indulgently at his young colleague. 'You can't expect every interview to shed light on the case,' he said equably. 'It's early days. We haven't even got the post mortem report yet.'
      Black nodded. 'DCI's probably there now. What do you make of her, then?'
      'DCI Gordon?' Carter grinned. 'I've worked with her before. She's bloody good. Formidable woman though. It doesn't do to get in her bad books.'
      Black nodded. 'I'll remember that,' he said.
      'And watch out for Geraldine Steel,' Carter added. 'She's one of those rare officers who seems to sniff out a villain by instinct.'
      'Bloody women,' Black grumbled amiably. 'Too bloody clever.'

 
     
    10
     
     
    Mortuary
     
     
     
     
    Geraldine saw at once why the pathologist was known at the police station as Dr Death.