Free Never Forget by Lisa Cutts

to go in the van with the entry and search team. She’ll brief you on the way. You go in, do your thing, arrest him for the murders of Amanda Bell and Jason Holland, and then Nina and John will join you. The suspect’s name is Gary Savage. Grounds for arrest are a DNA hit on Holland. Anyone have any pressing questions, as I’m handing you the warrant and leaving you in Kim’s hands?’ Without waiting for us to say anything, he got up and walked out, leaving the door open. We stood up, glanced at one another and left without a word.
    In the yard a couple of minutes later, Wingsy and I watched our uniform colleagues piling into the van. We’d all made the workmen cups of tea from time to time. On several occasions I’d popped to see Alf and found him in his cubbyhole amusing at least one of the decorators with his navy stories. Last to get into the van was Kim, carrying a file and a notebook. As we approached, she was handing out photographs of Gary Savage.
    ‘Sarge,’ shouted Wingsy. She looked at him. ‘Grounds for arrest are a DNA hit but what other details do you have?’
    ‘A hair was found on Holland’s body. You’re not making the arrest so you don’t need to worry about it.’ She pulled the sliding door of the van shut and began her mobile briefing.
    Wingsy was holding the car keys in his hand, pressing the remote unlock button, attempting to locate our car in the badly lit yard. ‘Best get going, mate,’ I said. ‘We didn’t even get an address.’
    ‘Yeah, and that briefing was shite,’ he said, marching towards the car whose indicators had flashed. ‘Just what is going on here?’

Chapter 17
    W e stayed out of the way while Bill and his team entered Savage’s terraced house. It was nothing out of the ordinary, though on the outside at least the decorator’s house could have done with a lick of paint. The last one out of the van was Kim. She came over and got into the rear seat of our Golf, bringing the cold in with her.
    Her first words to us were, ‘One of Savage’s hairs was found on one of Jason Holland’s stab wounds. Holland had twenty-seven identifiable wounds inflicted on him but unlike Amanda, who drowned in her own blood, he would have died just from those. It would seem that he was left to bleed to death.’
    A pause allowed this information to sink in. She continued, ‘Not going to need you two for much, as the senior CSI is on her way. You’re here only in case anything mundane needs doing.’
    The interior light in the car came on as she got back out again. I looked over at Wingsy in the driver’s seat. He was shaking his head as he watched her walk towards the house under the orange glow of the lamppost. ‘Must be a full moon,’ he said.
    ‘Perhaps she’s just not a morning person?’ I said. ‘Let’s try not to rub anyone up the wrong way after just a couple of days.’
    ‘Take it you didn’t get three sheets to the wind last night or you’d not be quite so charitable. Who’s that just come out of the house?’
    I couldn’t make out the figure clearly but could see the high-visibility part of a police stab-proof vest heading towards us. A few seconds later, I recognised Lila’s cropped red hair.
    Wingsy let the driver’s window down as she approached. ‘Hello, gorgeous,’ he said. ‘Are we needed?’
    ‘Right, he’s been nicked, and Kim, or Sergeant Cotton as she’s told me she prefers, has asked that you two have a quick look in his car and his works van. Both are parked on the road.’ She handed Wingsy two sets of keys and pointed with her free hand at some parked vehicles on the other side of the street. ‘The white van and the blue Ford. Oh, and she said to tell you to wear gloves. And if you find anyone in the boot bleeding to death, be sure to let her know before you call an ambulance.’
    ‘You’re having a good morning too, then, Lila?’ I asked.
    We all looked up as car headlights came towards us. The senior crime scene investigator, Joanna