‘An exit strategy,’ Richard said.
Janine laughed at the jargon. ‘Presumably he can switch his accent on and off to suit the occasion, he’s bi-lingual,’ she said. ‘So as Harper he killed Rosa at his place. She’s about to run off, she’s pregnant, wants out.’
‘Maybe she threatens to blow the gaffe about everything, the brothel, the trafficking, the lot,’ Richard suggested.
‘Yes, I don’t think he planned it, though. It was all too messy. If he’d wanted her removed, he’d have organised a contract killing or something that left him unsullied. It’s more likely that they argued, Harper loses it, and flips. He strangles her. Then he has a body on his hands. He’s got to hide his tracks. He messes her face up, removes the tattoo…’ Janine’s stomach turned at the thought of Harper hitting Rosa’s face, desperately trying to obliterate her, ‘… parcels her up, weights and all. Then, as Sulikov, he rings Stone.’
Richard said, ‘He lies about it, says she’s OD’d. Harper drives the car to the industrial estate, leaves it for Stone. Then he goes home and reports his car stolen. He told Stone and Gleason to get rid of Rosa and torch the car. He expected that to be the end of it. No body; she’s at the bottom of the Mersey, and no car; that’s gone up in flames. Everything carries on as normal.’ Richard glanced at her; she nodded. She picked up the thread.
‘Might all have been hunky dory if the lads had got rid of the car straight away as Harper intended but the hit and run put paid to that.’
‘When that happens Harper wants shot of Stone and Gleason, they know too much… and we’re getting closer all the time. So he ambushes them and shoots Gleason.’
‘But Stone gets away.’
‘That’s when he booked the hotel!’ Janine shouted triumphantly. ‘Wednesday night,’ she hurried on, ‘he needed to distract us – send us after Sulikov, make the guy look real.’
Richard tapped the brake as a four wheel drive slowed in front of them. The car jerked throwing them both forward. ‘Christ!’ Janine said.
‘Sorry.’ Richard watched the vehicle in front move over and then he roared forward.
‘Naming Sulikov was the ace up his sleeve. We could have been sitting there still, like a load of wallies, waiting at the Midland for the man, while he’s airside, studying the in-flight mag and having his complimentary G &T.’ She turned to Richard, her face glowing with excitement. ‘And the way he made us drag it out of him,’ she hit the dashboard, ‘can you credit it? In fear for his life.’ She shook her head.
