Page 62 of 36 Hours

‘She’s my niece,’ he said flatly.

‘But you’re not close anymore?’

‘Things happen, Inspector,’ he said, brushing past her and heading for the sink. He took a glass and filled it with water before turning back towards her. ‘Families drift apart.’

Mrs Lane’s clenching and unclenching fist belied that it was that simple, but she was unsure if she was just involving herself in family politics. Perhaps it was nothing more serious than Mrs Lane offering too much advice on raising children. Maybe they’d lent Joanne some money at a difficult time and she’d never paid it back. Either way, she wasn’t convinced the answer was going to solve her case, but she did have another thought.

‘She mentioned something about a sexual assault earlier. Just outside Stourport. Did you hear anything about it?’

‘Should I have?’ he asked as Mrs Lane took the water glass from the side and rinsed it.

‘I’d have been surprised if you hadn’t. The victim was a woman following a trail from a free-to-join puzzles website. Surely it was discussed amongst your community?’

He folded his arms and shook his head. ‘Not with me.’

She was prevented from asking anything further as the younger Lane boy breezed in and dropped his backpack on the floor.

‘Well, well, well, it’s you again. Please say you’re arresting them and taking them away,’ he said, glancing at his parents.

Kim heard no edge of humour in his voice, but his mother turned her grimace into a smile.

‘Good study session?’ she asked.

‘Yeah, Ma, awesome.’

Only a woman in denial would offer the satisfied smile that rested on her lips. Kim realised that Mrs Lane had given up any kind of control of this child and chose to pretend his behaviour and attitude were normal so she didn’t have to address it.

Kim watched as Derren threw open the fridge door and started removing ingredients.

‘I fancy an omelette – anyone want one?’

His parents didn’t answer, and Kim suspected the offer didn’t extend to them.

He opened a drawer and chose the larger frying pan at the bottom, causing the whole arrangement to clatter loudly.

‘Shh, don’t wake your brother,’ Mrs Lane said, and the pleading tone wasn’t lost on Kim.

‘Ha, trust me, I ain’t gonna wake him. He isn’t even here.’

‘Of course he’s here,’ Mrs Lane snapped. ‘He went up just before me.’

He shrugged. ‘Have it your own way.’

The boy cracked eggs into a measuring jug as Mrs Lane rushed from the room.

‘Talking of which, did you have a nice night at the pub, Dad?’ Derren asked, looking at him pointedly.

Eric looked away first. ‘Fine, thank you.’

Mrs Lane stormed back into the room. ‘He’s not there, Eric,’ she said as though they were the only two people in the room.

‘Ooooh, where the fuck could the precious good son be at ten o’clock? Not doing anything naughty, is he? He’s twenty years old. He can look after himself. Or maybe he can’t,’ Derren said without turning.

‘Derren, shut up,’ Mrs Lane hissed.

The fact that Derren wasn’t picked up for either his attitude or language by either parent confirmed what Kim had suspected. They had given up.

As though remembering he was the man of the house, Eric turned her way. ‘Inspector, if we’ve answered your questions, will you please leave us in peace?’