Page 25 of Gone in the Night
‘Beth didn’t get mad at you at all? You slept with her daughter’s friend in your house and then threw her daughter out. I find it hard to believe she didn’t get angry with you over that, pal.’
He shrugged. ‘Nope, maybe if she had lost it with me over the years, I’d have stopped but she is literally like a doormat. As long as she has access to my money, she keeps her mouth shut.’
Cain could feel the anger welling up inside him at the guy sitting opposite. His total lack of respect for his wife was appalling.
‘Did you know where Sharon was camping on this trip? Where have you been this past week or so? At home each evening?’
‘Are you accusing me of killing Sharon?’
‘No, I’m trying to establish the facts. If I was accusing you, I’d have read you your rights and we’d be in an interview room down at the station.’
Stefan nodded. ‘I’ve been meeting Leah at her place. I wasn’t bringing her home again. I’ve been seeing her a lot especially last week before I broke it off with her, it was coming to an end…I wanted to make the most of it.’
‘And Leah can verify this?’
He nodded. ‘She can.’
‘Leah, what’s her second name?’
‘Leah King, she lives in a flat above the rock shop in Ambleside.’
Cain knew the shop so didn’t need anything else.
‘What’s going to happen now?’
‘Obviously I’m going to have to speak to Leah to make sure you’re telling me the truth, and if she confirms your alibi, then nothing.’
Stefan was getting angry; Cain could tell by the way he kept clenching his fists then unclenching them.
‘I didn’t kill Sharon, I’m devastated, I’m angry that someone has done this to her. I love her, she’s the closest thing to a daughter I’ve got. Her biological dad is a waste of space. He didn’t want to know when Beth told him she was pregnant. He’s never had anything to do with Sharon. It was me from the moment I fell in love with Beth, and now she’s gone, I’ll never see her again. Don’t you think I feel bad about how I talked to her, how much of an arsehole I was to her? I was angry with her because she caught me with her friend, but it didn’t mean I’d want her out of my life for good. It was just a temporary glitch. We’d have got over it in a couple of weeks and everything would have been back to normal.’
‘Even though you told her that you wanted her out of your life?’
‘It was all words. Are you telling me you’ve never said stuff you didn’t mean and regret?’
Cain did, almost every day but he wasn’t telling Stefan. He shrugged.
‘Oh, fuck off,’ was Stefan’s reply, and Cain thought how much he’d like to lean across and punch the arrogant bastard right between the eyes.
‘I’m not saying another word unless I have a solicitor.’
‘Good, I don’t think you should either and I’m finished anyway for now.’
Cain let thefor nowhang in the air. He stood up and pointed to the door. Stefan followed him outside, where Declan and Susie were both hovering, trying to look as if they hadn’t just heard the last few minutes of conversation.
‘Thanks, Declan, we’re finished now.’
‘Anytime.’
Cain knocked on the viewing room door.
‘Come in,’ Morgan’s voice called out.
Morgan looked a lot more relaxed than he felt. Beth was sitting there, her eyes red, dabbing at the corners of them, and he realised that Stefan hadn’t had to wipe his eyes once.
Morgan stood up. ‘Beth is going home to pack some things then going to stop at a friend’s house for a couple of days, Stefan. I’ve got a family liaison officer coming to drive her there, and if Cain has finished taking your statement, you’re free to go.’
Stefan was glaring at Beth. ‘For real, you’re leaving me now?’
