coming from number seven. Gulliver had his music playing at an ear piercing level despite knowing the officers were coming to see him. Perhaps he thought that he could keep them away with noise alone, and to be fair, by the sound of the techno dance music resonating in Reed’s ears it could work, but he refused to give up that easy so he thumped on the door with the heel of his fist.
“I’m really going to like this lad. I can tell.” Reed said, making Tyler smile.
With the music continuing and no sign of anybody at the door, Reed braced himself by putting a hand either side of the door, leaning his weight forward against the wall, then he kind of danced along to the beat before kicking his left foot against the base of door, making sure it was completely out of sync to the beat of the music.
“What the fuck is . . .” Gulliver was screaming as the door flew open.
“I was going to ask you the same thing.” Reed said, still leaning in, still holding on to the wall ready if the door was to shut again. Gulliver’s face was no more than a few inches away from his and he watched as the realization of who was on his doorstep crept over it. Gathering himself together, Gulliver motioned for the officers to follow him inside.
The flat was omitting a smell of stale marijuana even before they stepped in through the front door. Gulliver had darted to the left to what was probably the lounge; the kitchen was visible through a small arch at the end of the hall. There were two heavy fire doors on the right, a bathroom and bedroom Reed guessed. He thought it was funny that the most likely source of fire, the kitchen, was the only room without a fire door.
Tyler’s face was one of disapproval as they entered the dank, smelly lounge. Despite there being windows at either end of the room, the scum that had accumulated on them was filtering out most of the natural light. The only artificial light inside was coming from a tall lamp in the corner and that was struggling to do the job it was designed for under an old fashioned brown lampshade.
Gulliver had moved quickly to turn the music off and was already sat down in a chair; he was perched on the edge of the seat looking down, fiddling with one of his gold rings. Reed and Tyler were left to occupy the sofa. Reed sat first, and then Tyler followed. She sank deeper than Reed despite her being about four stone lighter. Her feet actually came off the floor and she let slip a small yelp. Both men stared at her as she shifted around trying to find a firm area where the springs might still have some life in them. In the end she organised herself onto the front edge of the seat, her face a bright crimson.
“Get on with your neighbours with all that noise do you?” Tyler asked harshly, angry that she had not been warned about the broken chair.
“What? They’re alright actually.” Gulliver replied, not realising it was their opinion of him that she was after. Stopping herself short of calling Gulliver names she could get in trouble for, she looked to Reed to take over.
“As you must be aware, Carmella Chapman’s body has been found which means our investigation has changed from a missing person to a murder enquiry,” Reed paused, giving the words time to settle into Gulliver’s brain, “Her body was found on Thetford Common and I wanted to check with you to see if on the night you gave her a lift home whether you stopped or passed there?”
“No, I’ve already told your lot the way we went.” Gulliver snapped.
“I know you have but I have new questions for you and in order to ask these I need to confirm a few things along the way.” Reed explained as though he was talking to a three year old, and mentally, who knew? “So my next question is: When you dropped Carmella off, did you notice anything suspicious?”
Gulliver made a mock of thinking, raising a finger to his chin and looking skywards, “Yes. There was a man with a sign saying ‘I’m a murderer!’ I just
“I’m really going to like this lad. I can tell.” Reed said, making Tyler smile.
With the music continuing and no sign of anybody at the door, Reed braced himself by putting a hand either side of the door, leaning his weight forward against the wall, then he kind of danced along to the beat before kicking his left foot against the base of door, making sure it was completely out of sync to the beat of the music.
“What the fuck is . . .” Gulliver was screaming as the door flew open.
“I was going to ask you the same thing.” Reed said, still leaning in, still holding on to the wall ready if the door was to shut again. Gulliver’s face was no more than a few inches away from his and he watched as the realization of who was on his doorstep crept over it. Gathering himself together, Gulliver motioned for the officers to follow him inside.
The flat was omitting a smell of stale marijuana even before they stepped in through the front door. Gulliver had darted to the left to what was probably the lounge; the kitchen was visible through a small arch at the end of the hall. There were two heavy fire doors on the right, a bathroom and bedroom Reed guessed. He thought it was funny that the most likely source of fire, the kitchen, was the only room without a fire door.
Tyler’s face was one of disapproval as they entered the dank, smelly lounge. Despite there being windows at either end of the room, the scum that had accumulated on them was filtering out most of the natural light. The only artificial light inside was coming from a tall lamp in the corner and that was struggling to do the job it was designed for under an old fashioned brown lampshade.
Gulliver had moved quickly to turn the music off and was already sat down in a chair; he was perched on the edge of the seat looking down, fiddling with one of his gold rings. Reed and Tyler were left to occupy the sofa. Reed sat first, and then Tyler followed. She sank deeper than Reed despite her being about four stone lighter. Her feet actually came off the floor and she let slip a small yelp. Both men stared at her as she shifted around trying to find a firm area where the springs might still have some life in them. In the end she organised herself onto the front edge of the seat, her face a bright crimson.
“Get on with your neighbours with all that noise do you?” Tyler asked harshly, angry that she had not been warned about the broken chair.
“What? They’re alright actually.” Gulliver replied, not realising it was their opinion of him that she was after. Stopping herself short of calling Gulliver names she could get in trouble for, she looked to Reed to take over.
“As you must be aware, Carmella Chapman’s body has been found which means our investigation has changed from a missing person to a murder enquiry,” Reed paused, giving the words time to settle into Gulliver’s brain, “Her body was found on Thetford Common and I wanted to check with you to see if on the night you gave her a lift home whether you stopped or passed there?”
“No, I’ve already told your lot the way we went.” Gulliver snapped.
“I know you have but I have new questions for you and in order to ask these I need to confirm a few things along the way.” Reed explained as though he was talking to a three year old, and mentally, who knew? “So my next question is: When you dropped Carmella off, did you notice anything suspicious?”
Gulliver made a mock of thinking, raising a finger to his chin and looking skywards, “Yes. There was a man with a sign saying ‘I’m a murderer!’ I just
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