Page 141 of Making a Killing

‘Occam’s razor and all that,’ says Stillwell, and sees Fawley smile.

Baxter shrugs. ‘It’s a no-brainer. And if that’s not good enough for you, Finn O’Brien thinks it’s her.’

This is clearly news to Fawley. ‘We’ve spoken to him?’

Gis nods. ‘I did. About an hour ago. He says he’s almost certain –’

‘Almost?She was supposed to be his girlfriend.’

Gis shrugs. ‘That’s what I said, though maybe not in quite so many words. I think it was the hair that was messing with his head – he just didn’t seem to be able to get past how different it makes her look. And remember, this is the guy who couldn’t even remember if she had pierced ears. We’re not talking Super Recognizer here.’

‘OK,’ says Fawley, ‘so he’s an “almost” vote for Kate. What about Siobhan Reynolds?’

‘I’m talking to her this morning, sir,’ says Sargent. She checks her watch. ‘In about ten minutes, in fact.’

***

Phone interview with Siobhan Reynolds

3/08/2024, 9.16 a.m.

On the call, DC C. Sargent

CS:Hi, Siobhan, it’s DC Sargent – just checking you got the email?

SR:Yes I did.

CS:And what do you think? Do you recognize the person on the footage?

SR:Well, Ithinkit’s Sabrina – sorry, Daisy – but I wouldn’t say I was 100 per cent.

CS:OK –

SR:I mean, it looks more like her than Kate, but like I told her myself, they were like two peas in a pod. Which is weird, given I now discover they weren’t even related.

CS:I can imagine, though I guess a lot of that may have been down to having the same hair?

SR:Ha, true. Though you’re now telling me that was fake too. At least for Daisy.

CS:So if you’re not 100 per cent, what sort of number would you put on it – 80 per cent? 70 per cent?

SR:Maybe 65? Sorry, that’s not much use, is it.

CS:No, really, it’s very helpful. Thank you.

***

Bradley is on a call when Asante gets into the office.

‘I dread to think what that’ll do to your insides,’ she says, putting the phone down and gesturing at the McMuffin he picked up on the way. ‘Even the canteen stuff looks more appetizing, and boy, is that a low bar.’

He grins. ‘Needs must.’ He takes off his jacket and rolls up his shirt sleeves. ‘Any news?’

She nods. ‘I got a message overnight from a very helpful chap from Santa Monica PD by the name of John Gutierrez. He’s been out to the motel where Tierney’s neighbour saw the person he thought was her.’

‘Oh yes?’

‘Seems there were only three women of roughly the right age who were staying there at the time. Two paid by credit card and one with cash. It stuck in the receptionist’s mind because so few people do that these days.’ She hands him her phone. ‘This is from when she checked in. They’ve showed it to the neighbour and he ID’d her.’

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