Chrissie:
We now have a profile for Haider Jamal Abdi, originally from Mogadishu.
Overstayed his visa... over nine months ago.
Married, four children.
From all accounts, educated. Lectured at the university there.
No criminal record, but he is our strongest suspect, so I want you to go back through the calls we've had post-appeal.
I want you to humour every one. Every sighting, please.
We've made a shortlist of five strong leads, so it is very possible that Haider is our killer and these will lead back to him.
So, come on, let's get going... for Stevie.
Now see image of the phone call notes for Caller 112 - mentions “The Professor” Is that Haider?
Apparently, Caller 112 is Mr Lumo (the homeless man who hangs around outside Cristal Kebabs)
Ira: Mr Lumo, you called the appeal line with some information... so I'm listening.
Lumo: I speak to the general, not to the hired hand.
Ira: Put the can away. That stuff plays havoc with your teeth.
You keep saying "professor". Who's the professor?
Lumo: I want to talk to him.
Ira: Who?
Lumo: I tell the one who talks to himself where the professor is.
Ira: Where did you last see him?
Lumo: Where all the professors go to hide.
Apparently professors hide in the library. But by now we are told by Khaalid (who was hiding Haider) that he was ‘helping your friend’ (River’s friend = Stevie).
So now we know that Haider is NOT the killer - but the one person who could have helped to solve Stevie’s murder. Chrissie said that SHE doesn’t know what other investigation Stevie was working on ...... So who in the police team does know? Creepy Marcus McDonald???
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Someone upthread mentioned Michael Bennigan from Bennigan Cars who gives a totally different view of Haider.
Bennigan: Oh, didn't have your direct line.
River: It's good to see you.
Bennigan: I was hoping to avoid the state visit.
River: That's the problem with this country, it still bows down to its monarchy. How's Frankie doing?
Bennigan: Oh, he's quiet, yeah. Quiet. Missing his sister.
Jimmy's not come in today. I called round, but his mammy said he's not even got out of bed.
I know him, the man on your appeal.
He came in, about a month before we lost Stevie, looking for a job.
I didn't make the link.
There's no dignity in aging. I've got two little hearing aids, cost me a thousand quid each. I've got a prostate that my doctor sees as a money making venture and... Wait.
Oh, yeah. "Haider Jamal." Yeah, he was from somewhere in Africa. Where was it? Erm... Somalia.
Ira: Khaalid Mahmoud, dishwasher from Cristal's, he's from Somalia too.
Brannigan: That's it, yeah. That's it, yeah. Cristal's? I don't think I know it...
Ira: Kebab shop, near the Bethnal Green Road.
Brannigan: Ah, well, no more takeaways. My cholesterol is sky-high.
No, his paperwork is obviously false. You can see it pretty quick. They come in here with their fake IDs and their licences, and I send them away just as quick.
River: Can I take this?
Brannigan: Yeah, sure.
Most of the drivers have their own cars, y'know. I never saw his car myself, but I'm told it was a piece of sh1t. My engineers said that it was... Well, it stank of kebabs. And when I offered to lease him an alternative vehicle, he didn't like the terms. I quibbled his paperwork and he became aggressive. It was a short conversation but, still, it stayed with me. And then... when I saw the appeal... I mean, they... they looked pretty close.
Were they...?
I mean, there was the inference in the appeal. In some ways, I'm glad her father never saw this. I was with him... when he met Bridie. Pub in Kilburn. I was set up with her mate. And then, when Stevie became a police officer, people didn't trust Eric any more. They thought he might inform and that crushed Eric. but, there again, he'd a harder time than me.
River: You never saw prison.
Brannigan: Well, I scrubbed myself up... eventually.
You know, my girls are all married now. All privately educated.
I've got six grandkids.
River: Congratulations.
Brannigan: You know, you'd think it wouldn't have hit me like this. How are you holding up?
River: Good.
Brannigan: Yeah? You can't kid a kidder.