Page 21 of Gone in the Night
‘Because we found Sharon’s body earlier this morning and, unfortunately for you, you’re top of my suspect list. Eddy Lightburn, I’m arresting you on suspicion of murder. You do not have to say anything.But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence. Do you understand?’
He nodded his head. ‘Sharon is really dead?’
‘Yes, I’m sorry.’
The blood had drained from Eddy’s face. ‘I didn’t do it.’
‘Save it for interview.’
Eddy stared at the floor. Stan took out his handcuffs, but Ben shook his head.
‘Eddy, are you going to behave yourself or do I need to let my colleague cuff you and walk you out of here?’
‘Yes, I mean no. I mean I’m not going to kick off. What’s the point? I haven’t done this.’
‘Good, walk yourself out to the car like a good citizen then and we can get this over with as quickly as possible. If you had nothing to do with Sharon’s murder, we could get you processed and back here before you know it.’
Ben walked in front, Eddy in the middle and Stan behind. Stan locked the door and pocketed the key to the flat. Ben knew he should probably have waited until they had more evidence, but Eddy had admitted to going to Sharon’s house. He wanted him booked in, forensically examined and interviewed to make sure he didn’t have anything to hide.
They didn’t have time to waste. It would be a refreshing change to have Sharon Montgomery’s killer behind bars in record time.
FIFTEEN
Susie carried in a tray with four mugs of tea and a sugar bowl on it. Cain took a mug, heaping two spoons of sugar into it and stirring. Beth and Stefan declined, and Morgan felt too queasy to drink tea but thanked Susie, who left them to it.
‘Do you know of anyone who might want to hurt Sharon?’
Beth was having a hard time looking away from the viewing window, even though she could no longer see her daughter’s mutilated body. She shook her head. Stefan nodded.
‘That idiot Eddy Lightburn is out of prison. Have you spoken to him, arrested him yet? I’m assuming you know he beat the shit out of her.’
‘Yes, we have officers looking for him as we speak.’
‘Good because he’s a vile man.’
Beth finally tore her gaze away from the window and looked at Morgan.
‘I don’t think it was him.’
Stefan’s head snapped in his wife’s direction, so fast Morgan wondered if he’d given himself whiplash. ‘What, are you being serious?’
Beth ignored him. ‘He’s handy with his fists, loud mouthed, likes to drink, I just don’t think he’s the kind of man with the brains to find out where Sharon was and go and do this to her.’
Stefan looked at Morgan. ‘Beth isn’t a very good judge of character; you can disregard that.’
Beth glared at him. ‘Clearly, I’m not a very good judge of character because I’m still married to you. How dare you tell them to disregard my opinion? Where were you last night because you weren’t home? You were arguing with Sharon only last week.’
The tension in the room was so fraught the air was practically crackling with the energy.
‘What are you saying, Beth, that I snuck out of the house and stabbed our daughter to death? I may not be her biological dad, but I’m the one who has been there since she began to walk. I’ve always treated her as if she was my own child, so don’t throw that in my face, especially not now of all the times.’
Cain was staring at Morgan, but she couldn’t look in his direction; she was trying to figure out where to go from here. There had been some important revelations in the last couple of minutes that she couldn’t disregard.
‘Cain, do you want to see if Declan will let you take a statement from Stefan in his office, whilst I take one from Beth? It might be easier that way.’
Beth was back staring at the small window again. ‘Yes, I think that would be best. I would like to talk to you without being criticised by my husband who can’t lie straight in bed.’
Cain stood up. ‘Come on, we’ll go somewhere else.’
