Page 224 of Murder in the Family

Of course. But there is another explanation, and like I said before, we can’t just ignore it because we don’t happen to like it.

BILL SERAFINI

(also looking at the boards)

But what about her clothes? If Maura had beaten Luke to death she’d have been covered with blood, not to mention body matter. There’s no way the cops would have missed that.

HUGO FRASER

The simplest explanation would be that she got changed. She was at home – she’d have had access to plenty of clean clothes.

LAILA FURNESS

(glancing at the timeline)

But was there enough time to do that?

HUGO FRASER

(considering)

Just about, I think – assuming she was home by just gone ten. The 999 call wasn’t until 10.47.

JJ gets up and walks over to the board and stops in front of a group of stills taken from videos shown earlier.

Camera zooms in.

JJ NORTON

(gesturing at one image)

Well, we know what she had on earlier that evening, at their mate’s party. The question is whether she was still wearing the same stuff when the police arrived at the house after the 999 call.

TAREK OSMAN

(looking up)

I don’t have any film, I’m afraid – the media weren’t allowed to show any footage of the kids that night.

HUGO FRASER

(to Alan)

Surely the Met would have bagged up Maura’s clothes if she was the one who found the body? In which case, there must be something in the file to say what she was wearing.

They start to go back through the paperwork. Bill finds it first.

BILL SERAFINI

Here we are – grey hoodie, white T-shirt, jeans.

(looks up at JJ, still by the board)

Does that stack up?

JJ NORTON

(looking back at him)

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