‘Or a Nat-and-Naomi killer tag team,’ Pip groaned.

‘She did seem pretty angry that Naomi had talked to you,’ Ravi agreed. ‘What’s the word count on this project, Pip?’

‘Not enough, Ravi. Not nearly enough.’

‘Should we just go and get ice cream and give our brains a rest?’ He turned to her with that smile of his.

‘Yes, we probably should.’

‘As long as you’re a cookie dough kinda gal. Quote, Ravi Singh,’ he said dramatically into an invisible microphone, ‘a thesis on the best ice-cream flavour, Pip’s car, Septemb–’

‘Shut up.’

‘OK.’

Pippa Fitz-Amobi EPQ 16/09/2017

Production Log – Entry 17

I can’t find anything on Daniel da Silva. Nothing that gives me any further leads. There’s hardly anything to learn from his Facebook profile, other than he got married in September 2011.

But if he was the secret older guy, Andie could have ruined him in two different ways : she could have told his new wife he was cheating and destroyed his marriage, OR she could have filed a police report about statutory rape from two years before. Both circumstances are just rumour at this point but, if true, they certainly would give Daniel a motive for wanting her dead. Andie could have blackmailed him; it’s definitely not out of character for her to have been blackmailing a Da Silva.

There’s nothing about his professional life online either, other than an article written by Stanley Forbes three years ago about a car collision on Hogg Hill that Daniel responded to.

But if Daniel is our killer, I’m thinking he might have disturbed the investigation somehow in his capacity as a police officer. A man on the inside. Perhaps when searching the Bell residence he could have stolen or tampered with any evidence that would lead back to him. Or his sister?

It’s also worth noting the way he reacted to Ravi asking questions about Sal. Did he shut Ravi down to protect himself?

I’ve looked through all the newspaper reports on Andie’s disappearance again. I’ve stared at pictures of the police searches until it feels like my eyes are growing scratchy little legs to climb out of their sockets and splat against the laptop screen, like grotesque little moths. I don’t recognize Da Silva as any of the investigating officers.

Although there is one picture I’m not sure about. It was taken on the Sunday morning. There are some police officers in high-vis standing round the front of Andie’s house. One of them is walking through the front door, his back to the camera. His hair colour and length matches Da Silva’s when I cross-reference social media pictures of him from around that time.

It could be him.

It could be.

On to the list he goes.

Pippa Fitz-Amobi

EPQ 18/09/2017

Production Log – Entry 18

It’s here!

I can’t believe it’s really here.

The Thames Valley Police have responded to my Freedom of Information request. Their email:

Dear Miss Fitz-Amobi,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 3142/17

I write in connection with your request for information dated 19/08/17, received by the Thames Valley Police for the following information:

I’m doing a project at school about the Andrea Bell investigation and I would like to request the following:

1. A transcript of the interview conducted with Salil Singh on 21/04/2012

2. A transcript of any interviews conducted with Jason Bell

3. Records of the findings from the searches of the Bell residence on 21/04/2012 and 22/04/2012

I would be very grateful if you could help with any of these requests.

Result

Requests 2 and 3 have been refused citing exemptions Section 30 (1) (a) (Investigations) and Section 40 (2) (Personal Information) of the FOIA. This email serves as a partial Refusal Notice under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act (2000).

Request 1 has been upheld, but the document contains redactions as per Section 30 (1) (a) (b) and Section 40 (2). The transcript is attached below.

Reasons for decision

Section 40 (2) provides an exemption for information that is the personal data of an individual other than the requester and where the disclosure of that personal data would be in breach of any of the principles of the Data Protection Act 1988 (DPA).

Section 30 (1) provides an exemption from the duty to disclose information that a public authority has held at any time for certain investigations or proceedings.

If you are not satisfied with this response, you have a right of complaint to the Information Commissioner. I should draw your attention to the attached sheet which details your right of complaint.

Yours sincerely,

Gregory Pannett

I have Sal’s interview! Everything else was refused. But in their refusal they still confirmed that Jason Bell was at least interviewed in the investigation; maybe the police had their suspicions too?

The attached transcript:

Salil Singh Recorded Interview Date: 21/04/2012

Duration: 11 minutes Location: Interviewee’s residence Conducted by officers from the Thames Valley Police

Police: