Sam Mullins

It was only seven letters, but R.J. Platt rolled off the tongue a lot better than the bloke from the sea. He had a name now. It was a start. Clenahan spent the week typing the name into every tool at his disposal, checking registries, council tax receipts, and state records. And he found an address linked to a Ron J. Platt in Essex. Geographically, Essex isn't near Devon either.

It was only seven letters, but R.J. Platt rolled off the tongue a lot better than the bloke from the sea. He had a name now. It was a start. Clenahan spent the week typing the name into every tool at his disposal, checking registries, council tax receipts, and state records. And he found an address linked to a Ron J. Platt in Essex. Geographically, Essex isn't near Devon either.

It's way on the Belgium-Netherlands facing side of England. So they needed a man on the ground in Essex to head to this flat. And they found one.

It's way on the Belgium-Netherlands facing side of England. So they needed a man on the ground in Essex to head to this flat. And they found one.

So Redmond headed out, and when he arrived at the place, he was able to confirm that Platt had once lived in one of the flats there, but had moved out a while back. Redmond contacted the local tax department about the address, and they told him that Platt had written on his termination notice, I'm no longer liable for property tax. I'm moving to France. Platt was moving to France?

So Redmond headed out, and when he arrived at the place, he was able to confirm that Platt had once lived in one of the flats there, but had moved out a while back. Redmond contacted the local tax department about the address, and they told him that Platt had written on his termination notice, I'm no longer liable for property tax. I'm moving to France. Platt was moving to France?

This detail would light up the imaginations of Clenehan and MacDonald when they heard it. Because a move to France could conceivably place Ron Platt on a boat in the English Channel where his body was found. But the most useful bit of information that Redmond was able to find in Chelmsford came when he spoke to Platt's old landlord. They did give me the name of the chap who stood guarantor for him.

This detail would light up the imaginations of Clenehan and MacDonald when they heard it. Because a move to France could conceivably place Ron Platt on a boat in the English Channel where his body was found. But the most useful bit of information that Redmond was able to find in Chelmsford came when he spoke to Platt's old landlord. They did give me the name of the chap who stood guarantor for him.

When he applied to rent the place, Ron Platt needed to provide a reference. So he gave one. Mr. Davis. David Davis. In an investigation in which they had failed to find a single person involved in Ron's life who actually knew Ron, learning the name and mobile number of a character reference felt like gold.

When he applied to rent the place, Ron Platt needed to provide a reference. So he gave one. Mr. Davis. David Davis. In an investigation in which they had failed to find a single person involved in Ron's life who actually knew Ron, learning the name and mobile number of a character reference felt like gold.

And since this Davis person lived nearby in Essex, Peter Redman was the one who called him up.

And since this Davis person lived nearby in Essex, Peter Redman was the one who called him up.

And Davis obviously wanted to know what this was all regarding. So Redman had to come out with it on the phone.

And Davis obviously wanted to know what this was all regarding. So Redman had to come out with it on the phone.

Redman said that if it was okay with him, he would like to ask Davis some questions about Ron in person. And Davis said, sure.

Redman said that if it was okay with him, he would like to ask Davis some questions about Ron in person. And Davis said, sure.

After their chat, Redman told him that his colleagues, who were the ones investigating Ron's death in Devon, would be contacting him as well. And they would be able to give him more information about the circumstances of their finding his friend. The first time Ian Clenahan called David Davis, there was no answer.

After their chat, Redman told him that his colleagues, who were the ones investigating Ron's death in Devon, would be contacting him as well. And they would be able to give him more information about the circumstances of their finding his friend. The first time Ian Clenahan called David Davis, there was no answer.

But then, as so often happens in British police procedurals, there was a high-stakes scene involving tea.

But then, as so often happens in British police procedurals, there was a high-stakes scene involving tea.