Page 40 of Murder in Shades of Fire and Ash

“My bad,” Will said, and scrabbled about in his pocket until he produced a carefully folded piece of paper. “A factsheet on Joshua Cameron Pettifor for your delectation and delight. None of which answers the question of whether it was him in the fire. Right, I’m off upstairs to sit at a computer.”

Joshua Cameron Pettifor

DOB: 3rdAugust 1994

Address: NFA (lives in camper van)

Education: St David’s School, Wrexham (left 2012)

Uni of Liverpool (completed first year of English lit degree, left 2014)

Occupation: former online journalist, writer, part time driver (Mo’s Autoparts)

Next of kin: Ella Williams, spouse, Flat 5, Artemis Court, School Street, Wrexham, married 2017

Children: not known (Ella Williams has a son, aged 7. No father’s name given)

Distinguishing marks: none

Eye colour: blue

Hair colour: brown

Height: 5’11”

Phone numbers were givenfor both Pettifor and Ella Williams. Charlie rang Pettifor’s number, but the only answer was a robotic voice telling him that the number was not in service. He was about to call Ella Williams when Tom walked in.

“I bring food and information,” he said, lifting a supermarket bag. “There are cakes, but there is also salad. Eat the salad first.”

“Yes, boss,” Charlie said. “What’s the information?

“I called in to work and looked up the trading estate. One of the estate agents here in town actually manages it for us: HuwJones from Jones and Company. I bought our house from them when I came here. What’s this?” Tom picked up the paper with Pettifor’s information.

“Police business is what it is,” Charlie said, though he was smiling as he spoke.

Tom gave him the paper. “I just saw the name Josh and thought it was Patsy’s bloke.”

“No, this is another Josh.”

“One of Unwin’s classmates? Weren’t there supposed to be four of them?”

There were indeed, but surely that would be another unlikely coincidence. Wouldn’t it?

Charlie’s leg hurt too much to hop his way up the stairs, so he sent Will a text.

WasJoshua Pettifor in Unwin’s class at school?

30

Tuesday afternoon

Tom showed Charlie a plastic box of salad. There was cheese, and potatoes, plus lots of green leaves and tomatoes Charlie suspected came from their own garden. He didn’t want to eat salad, he wanted sugary stuff, but it was nice to be looked after.

“Lunch, eat the salad. I’ll put it in the fridge, along with some cakes. Salad before cake,” he said. “I’ve got to go, Orianna wants to video call, dunno why. Says it’s important and wants to talk while the girls are out.”

Charlie’s stomach lurched, just a little, at the thought of the twins’ return. It would be good to get the case wrapped up before they came back so he and Tom could have some time together. At the moment it wasn’t looking likely.

“OK,” he said, and Tom left.

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