Chapter 57

At the police briefing, Chris Hudson explains that Ian Ventham’s fentanyl must have been administered by someone present at Coopers Chase on the morning of his death. Because of that, the investigation will focus on building a complete list of everyone at the scene, with the possibility that the same inquiry may also illuminate Tony Curran’s murder.

Donna De Freitas listens while watching a colleague outside and considering potential suspects. She thinks about Father Mackie and then about the Thursday Murder Club, acknowledging that Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron were all near Ventham and could theoretically have done it, though Donna struggles to believe any of them actually did.

Chris assigns further work, noting that Ventham had many enemies through his business dealings and affairs. Donna’s mind briefly turns to her ex, Carl, and she realizes that she has begun to think about him less, though she also worries about what will happen to her life and career once the murders are solved.

Chris keeps pressure on the Tony Curran investigation as well. The police still need speed-camera information, especially whether Ventham’s car was on the relevant road; they also need to find Bobby Tanner, identify the person who took the photograph, and trace the phone number that called Curran. This last point reminds Donna of a hunch she has been meaning to pursue.