A Groomed Alibi

John uses Alison and the family’s expectations to build the appearance that he spent Lula’s final day with his mother.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

A Plausible Home Day

The Dutiful Son Work from home John says he was at Yvette’s flat, working while keeping his mother company. The claim suits his family role and seems plausible because Yvette is recovering from surgery. A witness by assumption John claims that he stopped at his office for files, where Alison could have seen him. But Alison was sent to Oxford that morning, and the supposed office confirmation is not supported by the person whose evidence he implies.

The Oxford Search

Alison Sent Away A search for Tony Cyprian sends Alison to Oxford to locate Tony, apparently believing that he has disappeared with Ursula. She arrives at the hotel but misses him, later learning that he returned to London. An alibi’s missing witness Her absence means she could not have seen John at the firm when he says he collected files. After she understands the larger deception, Alison withdraws her protection and becomes a possible witness against him.

A Story Falls Apart

No Reliable Confirmation An assumption tested Strike asks John whether he actually saw Tony at Yvette’s home and whether Yvette remembers the visit. John has to concede that he heard a voice and assumed it belonged to his uncle. The last alibi collapses Yvette does not recall Tony, Alison was not at the office, and Tony’s account served his own secret. John is left with his mother’s unreliable memory and no independent witness to place him where he claims.

On January 7

On January 7, around the conference hours

At the final confrontation in Strike's office