Sam Mullins

So he got Peter Redman of Essex Police back on the phone.

So he got Peter Redman of Essex Police back on the phone.

Peter Redman again, the most low-key cop of all time.

Peter Redman again, the most low-key cop of all time.

Redmond's post in Chelmsford is a really busy office. He usually has a million things to do and wouldn't, under normal circumstances, drive the half-hour drive to go and do another detachment a favor right away. But this day, he had a reason to want to make the drive.

Redmond's post in Chelmsford is a really busy office. He usually has a million things to do and wouldn't, under normal circumstances, drive the half-hour drive to go and do another detachment a favor right away. But this day, he had a reason to want to make the drive.

So Redmond heads out for the small village called Woodham Walter.

So Redmond heads out for the small village called Woodham Walter.

As Peter Redman drives his brand new car that day in 1996, he has no idea that he himself has become a vehicle of fate. He and Clenahan and McDonald will spend the rest of their lives thinking about how big a role luck played that day. What would have happened if Clenahan didn't lose Davis' phone number? They'd wonder in the coming decades.

As Peter Redman drives his brand new car that day in 1996, he has no idea that he himself has become a vehicle of fate. He and Clenahan and McDonald will spend the rest of their lives thinking about how big a role luck played that day. What would have happened if Clenahan didn't lose Davis' phone number? They'd wonder in the coming decades.

What if Redmond didn't feel compelled to take the new car for a spin and someone else went to Woodham Walter that day? They'd never know.

What if Redmond didn't feel compelled to take the new car for a spin and someone else went to Woodham Walter that day? They'd never know.

He was told that Davis' home was a place on Little London Lane that was called simply Little London Farmhouse. When Redmond took my producer Alex on this exact drive, everything looked the same as it did back then, but for one key detail.

He was told that Davis' home was a place on Little London Lane that was called simply Little London Farmhouse. When Redmond took my producer Alex on this exact drive, everything looked the same as it did back then, but for one key detail.

The houses all have signposts with their names on them, but they didn't then.

The houses all have signposts with their names on them, but they didn't then.

And this, Redmond standing on the doorstep with his hand perched to knock, this, dear listener, is the biggest what if from that day. What if Redmond didn't accidentally knock on the wrong door? And Frank and Audrey answered. Frank and Audrey, the neighbors, were both in their late 70s. Charmingly, whenever they met a new person, like the police officer on their doorstep, they'd offer right away.

And this, Redmond standing on the doorstep with his hand perched to knock, this, dear listener, is the biggest what if from that day. What if Redmond didn't accidentally knock on the wrong door? And Frank and Audrey answered. Frank and Audrey, the neighbors, were both in their late 70s. Charmingly, whenever they met a new person, like the police officer on their doorstep, they'd offer right away.

We're not married to each other. We're both widows and live together just as friends. Peter double-checked the address for David Davis and asked them if this was...

We're not married to each other. We're both widows and live together just as friends. Peter double-checked the address for David Davis and asked them if this was...