‘He said his mate put him on to me, someone I know, so I thought he was OK.’
‘This mate have a name?’
‘Benny Broughton,’ he said.
Rachel felt her spine tingle. ‘And what was the lad who sold it to you called?’
‘He didn’t say.’
‘Describe him,’ she said.
‘Half-caste, twenties, bleached hair.’ He described Sean Broughton. ‘’S all I remember.’
‘He say why he was selling it?’
‘He said he’d found it.’
‘What time was this?’
‘Half seven.’
‘Yesterday,’ Rachel checked.
He nodded.
The day after the murder. ‘Did you check the phone out?’
‘Yeah, it was fine.’
‘Anything on it? Messages, contacts?’
‘Bit of credit, that was it.’
‘OK.’
‘Can I go then?’
‘No, sunshine, you come with us. We need a statement from you. Beats working, eh?’
He swore under his breath, but buckled up when she told him to and sat there letting out weary sighs at regular intervals as they returned to the nick.
THE ATMOSPHERE IN the room had changed up a gear with the developments and Rachel enjoyed being part of it. Mitch was recounting the scene in the gaming parlour when Gill returned, crackling with energy and barking instructions and questions. ‘Statement the girl now. Janet, how much more time to prep? Hold back on Benny Broughton till we’ve arrested Sean. We have the DNA profile through from traces on the body, matching Sean Broughton as anticipated – after all, he had slept with Lisa the previous night, and covered her with the duvet at the very least. Toxicology just in: heroin present, modest level, non fatal – suggests that Lisa partook shortly before her death.’
‘Must have been after she got home,’ Rachel said. ‘There’s no point in the shopping trip when she had an opportunity to take drugs.’
‘Is that why she put off Sean coming round sooner?’ Janet said. ‘Hogging it?’
‘Or sharing it with someone else? Her dealer?’ said Pete.
‘She had sex with someone,’ Kevin said.
‘Or was raped,’ said Rachel. Still wanting to factor in the Ryelands link, even if only in her own head as yet. That won her a look from Janet.
‘We’ve not got Sean supplying, as such,’ Pete said.
‘So who was?’ Janet said.
Gill’s phone went and she took the call. Held up a hand to quieten the room. ‘Andy?’ she listened, eyes alert, raised an eyebrow. ‘Well, that’s one for the mix!’ She ended the call, looked at them. ‘Neighbour opposite swears blind that there were no shopping bags when Lisa got out of the cab. How does that work?’
‘She made a detour en route, visited a fence,’ said Janet.
