They sat at the IKEA table – a stilted threesome with untouched cups of tea sitting in front of them. Jason Robins had assumed the worst when he’d opened the door to two police officers, asking stutteringly if Samantha and Emily had been involved in some kind of accident. When Helen had assured him that this was nothing to do with his family, he’d calmed down, suspicion slowly replacing his fear.
‘You may have read about a series of murders in Southampton recently,’ Helen began. ‘Murders linked to the sex trade.’
Jason nodded but said nothing.
‘A couple of the victims used an online prostitute rating forum.’
Helen let her words hang in the air, pretending to consult her notebook before continuing:
‘It’s called Bitchfest.’
She looked up as she said it, keen to see how Jason would react. He didn’t react at all – not a nod, not a smile, nothing. In Helen’s eyes this was as damning as an admission. Jason was sitting stock still, clearly worried that the slightest reaction might give him away. Helen eyed him.
‘Are you aware of that forum, Jason?’
‘No.’
‘Have you ever visited it?’
‘Not my kind of thing.’
Helen nodded and feigned writing something in her notebook.
‘Do you ever use the alias “Hammer” whilst online?’ Charlie asked.
‘ “Hammer”?’
‘Yes, “Hammer” – have you ever used that alias whilst visiting other web forums or sites offering adult material?’
Jason seemed to mull over the question, keen to be seen to be taking it seriously.
‘No. No, I haven’t.’
‘I ask because someone using that alias has a credit card registered to this address in the name of Jason Robins.’
‘Must be fraud.’
‘Have you reported any fraudulent activity on your card?’
‘No, I wasn’t aware of it, but now that you’ve told me I’ll ring them straight away. Get it cancelled.’
Silence descended briefly. Jason was wound tight as a drum, a sheen of sweat sticking to his brow.
‘Are you separated from your wife?’
Jason seemed to relax as the questioning took a new turn.
‘Yes, I am. Not that it’s any of your business.’
‘But you’re not divorced?’
‘Not yet. But we will be.’
‘So presumably you’re currently involved in negotiations about custody of your daughter, Emily?’
‘That’s one way of putting it.’
‘How would you put it?’
Jason shrugged and took a sip of his tea.
‘I can understand why you’re being cagey, Jason. You’re in a tricky place and the last thing you need is the police outing you as a guy who visits adult websites and uses the services of sex workers. It wouldn’t play well in court – I get that. But listen to me carefully. People are dying out there and unless men like you have the courage to step up to the plate, more people will die. I could charge you with wasting police time, obstructing an investigation and more, but I know that you’re a decent guy, Jason. So I’m asking you to help us.
