‘So, let’s see what we’ve got so far,’ she looked at Harper then at Richard. ‘You manage the Topcat Club and the brothel in Openshaw. Both businesses are owned by Konrad Sulikov. Sulikov is also behind a trafficking operation. Rosa Milicz was one of the women he smuggled over. You began a sexual relationship with her.’ Harper sat there as though exhausted; she wasn’t even sure whether he was taking in what she was saying now. ‘You arranged for Rosa to dance at the club although she continued to live at the brothel. When Rosa discovered she was pregnant she talked about wanting to return to Poland. You’ve told us that you last saw Rosa on Sunday at work when you argued about her plans. She was desperate to go back but you told her to wait. On Monday evening you reported your car stolen from home. Tuesday you received a phone call from Konrad Sulikov telling you he had taken care of Rosa and threatening you.’
Harper began to shake.
There was a sharp rap at the door which made them all jump. Richard spoke for the machine: ‘Interview suspended, 16.47,’ and stopped the tape. Janine went to see who it was, her head still buzzing with the details of Harper’s account. His story so far meshed with Marta’s; both pointed to Sulikov as the man behind the killing.
Richard followed her out. Butchers was there, his face bright with excitement. He held out a hands-free phone. ‘Lee Stone on the phone for you, boss.’
Her heart began to thud. She took the phone, walked a few paces down the corridor. ‘Mr Stone, this is DCI Lewis.’
‘Jez Gleason. I didn’t kill him. I never killed nobody. I need protection, a new identity, the lot.’
She locked eyes with Richard as she listened.
‘Where are you?’
‘Can you do it, get me a safe house?’
‘It’s possible. You’d need to come in and talk to me. We’d need to know how you could help us. Where are you Lee?’
‘You’re tracing this call aren’t you…’
‘No, wait. Please, Lee…’ He’d hung up already, the dialling tone loud in her ear.
Janine closed her eyes, released her shoulders, swore with frustration. ‘He thought we were tracing it,’ she told Richard. ‘He claims he’s innocent.’
Richard looked askance.
‘Wants witness protection.’
‘He’ll ring again,’ Richard reassured her.
He probably would but there was no guaranteeing it. Janine wondered whether there was any other way she could have handled the call that would have stopped him freaking out.
‘The guy’s on the run,’ Richard said, ‘his name’s on posters all over the place, we want to talk to him about two murders and a death by dangerous driving, of course he’s paranoid.’
