Manny’s eyes flickered, and Gardener knew from his interested but puzzled expression they were new to him.
“Never seen ’em.”
“They came from your house.”
“My house?” shouted Manny, rising to his feet.
“Yes,” said Gardener.
“All nicely hidden in a metal box,” said Reilly. “With a lock on it. Mind you, if I was in possession of stuff like this, I’d want it under lock and key, so I would.”
“You’ve been to my house without a warrant?”
“Don’t need one,” replied Gardener.
Manny was suddenly very pale but fought back well, slamming his hand on the table. “I’ll sue the fucking lot of you. You have no right.”
Gardener leaned on the table with his hands spread wide. He lowered his voice to a whisper, which should have been all the warning Manny needed. “I don’t think you understand how much trouble you’re in.”
“Not as much as you lot, searching my house without a warrant.”
“Change the record, son.”
“We don’t need a warrant,” said Gardener. “You’ve seen the inside of enough police stations to know that, I would have thought. Once under arrest, section 32 of PACE says I can search where you are, or have been, for evidence of an offence. Once in the station, section 18 of PACE says I can search your home or place of work, no warrant needed.”
“My solicitor will make mincemeat of you lot.”
Gardener smirked. It was all bravado now.
“You have one, do you, Manny?” Reilly asked.
“Why don’t you call him?” said Gardener.
Cragg intervened. “Manny, you’re only making things worse for yourself.”
Gardener could see the thief was torn to pieces over the latest evidence. He knew something about the whole sorry mess, but he simply wouldn’t open up. Why?
Reilly pointed to the photos. “Who are these women, sunshine? How long have you been torturing them and taking photos?”
Manny was sweating.
“How many have you killed?” continued Reilly. “What have you done with the bodies?”
Manny’s hands were deep red from the constant wringing.
Reilly added more pressure. “You do know what happens to men like you in prison, don’t you, Manny? When the other cons get hold of this kind of information, you’re going to know exactly how those women felt. Trouble is, in prison, no one can hear you scream.”
“Actually, Sean, they can,” said Gardener. “They just don’t care.”
“If I was you, Manny, I’d talk,” said Cragg.
Manny opened his mouth but nothing came out.
Reilly leaned in again. “We know you burgled the house in Swansea Court, Manny. Which means we know you know something about Jane Carter. And if you add all this little lot into the mix, can you see where we’re going with it? If someone else is responsible for all of this carnage, why are you protecting him?”
Manny had his head in his hands. Lord only knew what he was thinking. Gardener couldn’t believe he would rather face what was coming to him from the police than what would happen in the outside world. It had to be serious.
Reilly was still leaning over the table when Gardener threw a picture of Mary on it.